Scavenging high-voltage copper wire, a hazardous petty larceny

With the current emphasis on recycling and the establishment of markets for sale of used copper wire, scavenging of copper wire from old buildings and equipment has become common. Although scavenging without permission constitutes theft, a more significant risk to the perpetrator is the potential for electrical burn injury in attempting to remove "hot" wire. A severe high-voltage electrical burn injury sustained while attempting to scavenge wire from an old house is reported. The circumstances surrounding the injury, the clinical management of the case, and the long-term consequences to the patient are presented and discussed.