Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 16, 1995 TAG: 9511160070
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When police searched his house for the nearly $8,000 in items stolen over the past decade, they found most of them still packaged, crowding the hallways and rooms of his house.
Wednesday, a Roanoke County Circuit judge convicted the 65-year-old former county radio communications supervisor on three counts of grand larceny. Cable, a county employee for nearly two decades, had pleaded no contest to the charges.
"This case has been very perplexing," said Cable's attorney, Morgan Griffith, who said he believes greed was not a motive since police recovered the stolen items almost untouched. "It's difficult to figure exactly what was going on."
The investigation into Cable's actions began in May, with an anonymous tip to Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney Skip Burkart. The tipster told Burkart that Cable was "stealing them blind."
Police reviewed hundreds of purchase orders to figure out who signed for them and if the item was missing. In May, Roanoke County detectives showed up at the radio communications office to talk to Cable and his co-workers about the missing items.
Most of his co-workers told police they suspected Cable, Burkart said. At least one county employee told investigators he had reported it to the county administration. When police approached county administrators, however, they said they couldn't recall any allegations being made, Burkart said.
Wednesday, County Attorney Paul Mahoney said Burkart's call about the anonymous tip was the first he had heard about Cable's actions.
New purchasing procedures in the communications department had already begun when police started investigating, Burkart said in court. The general services department head told police he was aware there may have been a problem and to remedy it he had instituted a new electronic computer program requiring a supervisor to sign off on a purchase order.
Item upon item had been disappearing from the communications department - air conditioners, socket sets, volt meters, a yellow rain suit, a shovel and extension cords.
Police believed Cable was keeping the stolen items in his Salem home. So they sent two vice bureau detectives to watch his house. The officers videotaped Cable leaving his house carrying armloads of boxes. Cable confessed after he was confronted, Burkart said.
In June, Cable was arrested on one count of grand larceny, and a grand jury later indicted him on three separate counts. He faces up to 60 years in prison and will be sentenced Dec. 20.
by CNB