WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A Palm Beach County School District (PBCSD) employee is facing serious charges after allegedly causing nearly $780,000 in damage by stealing copper worth just a fraction of that amount. Michael Falcone, 50, who worked as an electrician for the district, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly committing 18 burglaries across 20 schools in Palm Beach County over the span of six months.
Falcone reportedly trashed light poles and electrical boxes, removing copper to sell for scrap. The thefts, which began in July 2024, caused significant damage to the schools’ infrastructure. Despite the high damage costs, the copper itself was valued at just a few thousand dollars, with scrap copper fetching around $2 to $4 per pound.
Surveillance footage captured Falcone in his district uniform, complete with a badge, while selling the stolen copper at a scrapyard. According to the police report, when officers arrived at Falcone’s home in Boynton Beach, he reportedly admitted to the crimes, saying, “I know why you’re here” and “It’s because I stole copper from the schools.”
Falcone faces multiple charges, including burglary, criminal damage to property, larceny, and fraud.