"Home Guy" wrote in message ...

What gets me is that the AP feels some sort of idiosyncratic need to
report that this guy was "allegedly" trying to steal copper wire.

Would it kill them to NOT use the word "allegedly" in their reporting?

Could it be more obvious that he was absolutely trying to steal copper
wire?

It's a standard tactic, it protects them if someone sues them for being
falsely identified as a criminal. Granted, that is unlikely in this case.