Auto worker accused of selling parts for scrap

A 40-year-old Chrysler worker is facing theft charges, after he allegedly sold copper parts from the Windsor, Ont., assembly plant to a scrap metal yard, say police.

John Stanley Taylor, a Windsor resident, was arrested on Wednesday at the Chrysler plant and charged with theft over $5,000, possession of stolen property, and fraud.

Windsor police said they were advisedthat Taylor was selling copper welding tips as scrap metal to K & B Environmental, located at 1669 Gladstone Ave. in Windsor.

Police found 54 pounds of the copper parts in "pristine" condition at the scrap yard, and the investigation revealed that Taylor had allegedly made a "long series of transactions" since April of 2010.He was capturedon surveillance cameras at the scrap yard on several occasions, police said.

In total, police said K & B Environmental took in 116,000 copper welding tips from Taylor over the nine-month period.

Police said Chrysler Canada identified the copper tips as a part used on some of the robotic arms on the assembly line.Taylor was an assembly line worker with access to the parts, said Sgt. Brett Corey.

Corey said the investigation is ongoing.Police are still looking into whether any charges will be laid against the scrap yard, he said.