MARIETTA, Ga. – Marietta Police say a man stole hundreds of pounds of copper from a construction site at a local hospital.

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta is undergoing a major expansion. They are adding a 9 story tower with over 150 beds.

“The site at Kennestone Wellstar Hospital had someone come in with bad intentions. It appeared to be moving materials around the construction site,” said Marietta Police Officer Chuck McPhilamy.

Investigators say those items were copper tubing and large coils of heavy-duty copper wire.

A subcontractor called 911 and provided a description of the man, the truck and the direction he was headed.

The police caught up with the man and his truck was filled with copper wire just down the road.

“We’re talking about an individual who methodically pulled out 14 spools, each with up to 2,000 feet of cable,” Officer McPhilamy said.

That’s about $7,000 worth of copper. Investigators believe the man had planned to steal more.

“He staged all the material outside the door, I don’t know what spooked him, but he took all the copper wire in the truck, but he left a bunch of copper tubing,” said Officer McPhilamy.

When officers approached the driver, they discovered he had a gun.

“The gun was on the driver’s floor, within easy reach,” said Officer McPhilamy.

Police checked on the man in the truck, identified as James Ivey, 53, with a Decatur address. Investigators say he is a convicted felon who was driving with a suspended license. Police say the gun was stolen in a car break-in case in another county.

Police credited the subcontractor who called 911 with the quick arrest.

“Had it not been for the good witness of the contractor, this individual could have gotten away with stealing thousands of dollars worth of items destined for a local hospital,” said Officer McPhilamy.