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Man Trying To Steal Copper Electrocuted Next To SoCal Edison Transformer

PALM SPRINGS (CBS) — A man's body was found next to a Southern California Edison transformer after he was apparently electrocuted while trying to steal copper, Palm Springs police said Sunday.

SCE technicians called police Saturday at about 12:30 p.m. when they found a man's body near a circuit breaker at the Granite Construction site in the 5400 block of North Indian Canyon Drive, according to Sgt. Mike Kovaleff.

The technicians were responding to a system alert from the circuit breaker at the site when they found the man lying next to the 12,000-volt transformer, Kovaleff said.

"The preliminary investigation indicates the subject was tampering with the contents of the transformer when he was electrocuted," Kovaleff said.

Identification of the man was pending examination of the body by the coroner's office, the sargeant said.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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