Police from Glen Waverly have arrested a Cranbourne man who was caught removing copper cabling in Mulgrave this morning.
Officers were first called to the scene on Springvale Road, following reports of a suspicious vehicle about 3am.
Information had been provided to the police that a man was in a cabling pit and appeared to be going back and forth from a vehicle.
When officers arrived, they found the pit had been covered over with gumtree branches and the man hiding inside.
They removed the man from the pit and discovered a grinder and multiple copper cables, which had been cut.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a firearm and registration plates that did not match the vehicle.
The 34-year-old man from Cranbourne was arrested and will be interviewed in relation to the incident.