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Three arrested in copper theft

August 29, 2007|Samieh Shalash

Winchester Police have arrested three men in connection with a July copper theft that resulted in $30,000 in damage to a vacant warehouse.

Samuel Maupin, 21, and brothers John and Paul Baker, 24 and 26, were arrested last Wednesday after investigators obtained confessions from Maupin and John Baker. A fourth suspect may be arrested soon, police said.

According to Detective Danny Thomas, the men kicked in the back door and went through a back window of the old Chicago Rubber Building at 60 Rowland Ave. before stripping 1,300 pounds of copper from the walls and ceilings. The building is two houses down from Paul Baker's residence at 86 Brink Ave.

Copper averages $2.60 a pound at recycling centers, so the payoff would have been roughly more than $2,000, Thomas said.

Copper thefts have been prevalent this summer, with at least six reported cases since June. Thieves often destroy air conditioner units to get to the metal.

"Many people are going without AC in 100-degree weather because of these thieves," Thomas said, describing industrial AC units on Shoppers Drive that were destroyed outside a doctor's office.

"They had to shut down for a day because they just couldn't stand the heat."

The men told Thomas they stole and sold the copper to two Winchester recycling centers because it was "an easy way to get money," he said.

A law that took effect in July requires recycling centers to keep logs of anyone who sells copper, aluminum and other commonly stolen materials. Thomas said police are considering charging recycling centers who purchase suspicious items.

"Thieves are bringing in copper that's shiny, they're bringing radiators from AC units that are brand new," he said. "If (recycling centers) don't know that's stolen, there's something wrong."

But charges can't be pressed unless there is evidence that the copper was known to be stolen, he added.

Maupin, John Baker and Paul Baker will appear in district court at 1:30 p.m. today. If found guilty of the burglary, a class D felony, they face five to 10 years in prison.

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