A 32-year-old man faces 10 felony charges for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in copper wire and causing $90,000 in infrastructure damage across Bellevue and Renton between October and December 2024.
King County prosecutors this week charged Connor Jon Lacktorin in connection with a series of thefts targeting underground utility infrastructure belonging to telecommunications companies throughout the Eastside.
The theft spree began in Bellevue near 124th Avenue Southeast and Coal Creek Parkway, just blocks from Newport High School. Three separate incidents on October 6, October 15, and November 10 involved damage to Comcast fiber optic cables, though investigators determined Lumen copper wire was the primary target. Comcast reported repair costs exceeding $78,000 from the outages.
A month later, another theft occurred near Liberty High School in Renton, where hundreds of feet of Lumen and Comcast wire were cut, causing more than $12,000 in damage.
Investigators linked the crimes to Lacktorin through surveillance footage showing a black Toyota 4Runner at each scene. Department of Licensing records connected the vehicle to the suspect, who was also tied to a separate burglary at a Bellevue auto upholstery business where he had previously worked.
Bellevue police arrested Lacktorin after spotting him shoplifting at a Home Depot. Officers observed wire in the back of his 4Runner parked outside. During questioning, he admitted the items in the vehicle were his but denied cutting wire. He also disclosed struggles with fentanyl and methamphetamine addiction.
According to prosecutors, Lacktorin sold 856 pounds of copper wire for $3,076 and possessed an additional $3,000 to $5,000 worth of wire at the time of his arrest. Police recovered tools consistent with the thefts, including branch cutters, axes, and machetes.
The charges against Lacktorin include two counts of second-degree theft, first-degree trafficking in stolen property, second-degree identity theft, first-degree taking a motor vehicle without permission, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, and four counts of malicious mischief.
Court records show Lacktorin has a prior felony conviction for second-degree arson in 2013. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 5.
