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When the going gets tough, some criminals go for the copper...
Dec 18, 2010 9:27 am
It's become a regular news story in the counties to our south: a local home or business is broken into and their water pipes stolen. Not the sort of thing one wants to come home to. It's all about the copper, and prices the stuff is getting on the resale market down in the city.
Now, it's happening up here. Last Sunday, according to the Register Star, a Long Island man was arrested by the State Police after allegedly being caught in the act of stealing copper pipe from a Kinderhook residence he broke into, and from whence he is said to have cut several lengths of copper pipe from the basement, causing several hundred dollars worth of damage to the home’s heating system and also causing extensive water damage. According to State Police, a neighbor across the street noticed a vehicle at the house and knew no one was supposed to be there.
Robert J. Hammell, 23, allegedly broke into a Kinderhook home and cut several lengths of copper pipe from the basement, causing several hundred dollars worth of damage to the home’s heating system and also causing water damage.
No one was home at the time.
According to State Police Sr. Inv. Gary Mazzacano, a neighbor across the street noticed a vehicle at the house and knew no one was supposed to be there.
He said they were waiting outside for the police to arrive and saw Hammell coming out. They detained the suspect until authorities arrived, he said.
State Police from the Kinderhook station and the State Police in Livingston Bureau of Criminal Investigation arrested Hammell and charged him with third-degree burglary, a class D felony, possession of burglar’s tools and unlawful possession of marijuana.
Arraigned in Kinderhook Town Court, Hammell was remanded to the Columbia County Jail pending further court action.
According to Mazzacano, “when the price of copper goes up, we get more copper thieves.”
Even with the worldwide economic downturn, copper prices have been increasing in the last six months and the theft of the metal has been escalating nationally as well.
Now, it's happening up here. Last Sunday, according to the Register Star, a Long Island man was arrested by the State Police after allegedly being caught in the act of stealing copper pipe from a Kinderhook residence he broke into, and from whence he is said to have cut several lengths of copper pipe from the basement, causing several hundred dollars worth of damage to the home’s heating system and also causing extensive water damage. According to State Police, a neighbor across the street noticed a vehicle at the house and knew no one was supposed to be there.
Robert J. Hammell, 23, allegedly broke into a Kinderhook home and cut several lengths of copper pipe from the basement, causing several hundred dollars worth of damage to the home’s heating system and also causing water damage.
No one was home at the time.
According to State Police Sr. Inv. Gary Mazzacano, a neighbor across the street noticed a vehicle at the house and knew no one was supposed to be there.
He said they were waiting outside for the police to arrive and saw Hammell coming out. They detained the suspect until authorities arrived, he said.
State Police from the Kinderhook station and the State Police in Livingston Bureau of Criminal Investigation arrested Hammell and charged him with third-degree burglary, a class D felony, possession of burglar’s tools and unlawful possession of marijuana.
Arraigned in Kinderhook Town Court, Hammell was remanded to the Columbia County Jail pending further court action.
According to Mazzacano, “when the price of copper goes up, we get more copper thieves.”
Even with the worldwide economic downturn, copper prices have been increasing in the last six months and the theft of the metal has been escalating nationally as well.