A man who police say was attempting to steal copper wire fell into a manhole and caused $100,000 in damage in the El Sereno area, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
A concerned citizen called police just before 2 a.m. after seeing what appeared to be three men cutting a bus bench up with an electric saw.
The LAPD tells NBC4 that when they arrived in the 5000 Block of Valley Blvd., they found an open manhole behind the bus bench, with two of the three suspects inside.
One of the suspects fell down the hole and required assistance from the Los Angeles Fire Department to get out. The suspect was then transported to the hospital to be evauluated.
Inside the vault, the men had attempted to steal copper wire and caused about $100,000 in estimated damages.
Two people are in custody, and the case is ongoing.
