People v. Woodrome

State charged Defendant with theft and criminal damage to property. Court erred in granting Defendant's motion to suppress evidence of copper wire and sections of telephone cable found in his garage. Officers were conducting a lawful investigation, after anonymous caller reported theft of copper wire and that someone was unlawfully burning copper wire at Defendant's address, and were aware of copper wire thefts in vicinity. No 4th amendment violation occurred as no warrantless search occurred. Officers' decision to enter property and approach house were reasonable police actions, and officers viewed copper wire in plain view. (KNECHT and HOLDER WHITE, concurring.)