Copper

Because its air conditioning units were recently destroyed by copper thieves, the Leeds Center for the Arts has had to relocate its summer events and stop the summer movies. Jeff Phelps, vice president of the Leeds board, said someone stripped copper out of the building's three rooftop air conditioning units. The incident happened about a month ago, but Phelps said the theater is waiting on the payment of an insurance claim to replace the units. “I don't know exactly how much (copper)

A business sign worth approximately $525 was stolen from a Keene Road building last Sunday night, according to the Jessamine County Sheriff's Office. It was a 26-inch circular metal sign with a copper-like sheen with the words “Comfort Retriever” around the top, and “Original MiniGoldens” etched into it on the bottom. The owner of the sign, Kathy Burgess, filed the report and said though the sign looks like it is copper, it is not. “The joke's on them; there's maybe only $25 worth of copper in it, but just to have it made cost me a fortune,” Burgess said.

LIBERTY - Officers have arrested one man after more than 2,000 pounds of copper wiring was taken over the weekend from a gate shop, said Casey County Sheriff Jerry Coffman. John T. Garcia, 25, of 431 Button Knob Road, was charged Thursday night with theft by unlawfully taking more than $300 after he and another man allegedly sold 907 pounds of copper to Lincoln Scarp Metal Co. in Junction City. Officers contacted the scrap metal company after Larry Scott told Deputy Sheriffs Dennis Allen and Bob Weddle that someone had stolen the copper from his gate company between Friday night and Saturday morning.

LIBERTY - The Casey County Sheriff's Department has been busy for the past couple of weeks chasing thieves who have taken copper and tools at a school construction site and a utility substation. The officers also are investigating a break-in Sunday at Shannons Grocery. Deputy Sheriff Bob Weddle thinks that all the thefts may involve the same people. The officers got a break Tuesday when they confiscated two pickup trucks in Russell County that contained stolen copper, said Weddle.

In the spotlight this week at the Clark County Animal Shelter are Cher and Copper. Cher, a boxer and bloodhound mix, is about 16 weeks old. She will be a large dog, according to Shelter Director Beth Bowman. Surrendered to the shelter by her owner about a month ago, Cher is described as getting along with children, adults and other pets. "Cher is still a puppy," Bowman said. "She loves to play with toys, dogs and children. " Copper is a male basset and terrier mix. He's a medium sized dog and is about a year old, Bowman said.

Police charged two Winchester men with causing thousands of dollars of damage to churches in order to take a few hundred dollars worth of copper. Dennis A. Maggard Jr. and Bobby Noble, both 22 of 14 A St., are facing six counts each of first-degree criminal mischief and theft by unlawful taking under $300 for a half-dozen incidents at churches throughout the rural areas of Clark County. Sheriff Berl Perdue said the thefts have been going on for a couple of months as prices for copper and other metal continues to rise.

The charges keep coming against men charged with stealing copper from six churches throughout the county. At least eight new cases have been filed against Dennis Haggard, of 627 Laura Drive since his arrest last week. His co-defendant, Bobby Noble of 14 A Street, is facing four new cases as well. Winchester Police have four more cases ready to be filed. "We put two of the biggest copper thieves in jail," Winchester Police Detective Danny Thomas said after Wednesday's preliminary hearings.

Two men accused of leading a massive copper theft ring and another accused of trying to run over a Winchester police officer were indicted Thursday afternoon. Dennis Haggard Jr. of 627 Laura Drive, and Bobby Noble of 14 A St., were charged with 11 and six counts of first-degree criminal mischief, respectively, from a string of copper thefts in May and June. Police called the men "two of the biggest copper thieves" in Clark County following their arrest. Officers from both Winchester Police and the Clark County Sheriff's Office have multiple cases against the two men for allegedly stealing copper from a number of homes and churches throughout the county.

At 2:23 p.m. Monday, Michael J. Arnett of 600 Cole Road reported that someone entered his barn and took a chain saw and copper.

Report - At 11:52 a.m. Wednesday, officers were called to 544 Kiwi Drive after someone took copper from underneath a trailer.

HARRODSBURG - Two men have been indicted by a Mercer County grand jury for allegedly breaking into a warehouse at Corning Inc. and stealing copper wire on three seperate occassions. Dameon Devine, 23, of 315 James St., Harrodsburg, and Edward Robertson, 23, of 504 E. Main St, Danville, were each indicted on three counts of burglary and three counts of theft more than $500, for allegedly unlawfully entering the Corning property and stealing large amounts of copper. The alleged thefts occurred between Nov. 7 and Nov. 25. Bonds were set at $10,000.

HARRODSBURG - Two men were arrested Sunday after they allegedly attempted to sell stolen copper wire in Lawrenceburg. Harrodsburg police said Dameon Devine, 23, of Harrodsburg, and Edward Robertson IV, 23, of Danville, went to Francis Pallet and Recycling to sell the copper, which weighed about 615 pounds. According to Harrodsburg Lt. Chad Powell, the two stole the wire from the Corning warehouse Saturday night before taking it to sell in Lawrenceburg on Sunday. Robertson was charged with third-degree burglary.

A business sign worth approximately $525 was stolen from a Keene Road building last Sunday night, according to the Jessamine County Sheriff's Office. It was a 26-inch circular metal sign with a copper-like sheen with the words “Comfort Retriever” around the top, and “Original MiniGoldens” etched into it on the bottom. The owner of the sign, Kathy Burgess, filed the report and said though the sign looks like it is copper, it is not. “The joke's on them; there's maybe only $25 worth of copper in it, but just to have it made cost me a fortune,” Burgess said.

HARRODSBURG - A Harrodsburg man has been charged in connection with one of two recent thefts where thousands of dollars in copper wire were stolen from a local industry. Louis Thomas Anderson, 49, of 502 Cornishville St. was arrested about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday after allegedly stealing spools of copper wire from a Morris Drive warehouse leased by Corning Inc. Harrodsburg police Detective Brian Allen said Anderson was charged with receiving stolen property less than $10,000 and criminal facilitation to commit third-degree burglary.  Police were notified of a possible car wreck on North College Street near Lynn Drive after someone heard a loud noise.

LANCASTER - Nearly 700 Inter-County Energy customers were left without power early this morning after an unknown person stripped about 40 copper ground wires from a Garrard County substation. Late Thursday evening, someone cut through a fence surrounding the substation on Ky. 52 just outside of Lancaster, said Sheree H. Gilliam, vice president of member services for Inter-County Energy. The person then stripped approximately 40 copper wires, which caused a loss of power at the substation.

Because its air conditioning units were recently destroyed by copper thieves, the Leeds Center for the Arts has had to relocate its summer events and stop the summer movies. Jeff Phelps, vice president of the Leeds board, said someone stripped copper out of the building's three rooftop air conditioning units. The incident happened about a month ago, but Phelps said the theater is waiting on the payment of an insurance claim to replace the units. “I don't know exactly how much (copper)

Report - At 11:52 a.m. Wednesday, officers were called to 544 Kiwi Drive after someone took copper from underneath a trailer.

“I am so aggravated. They did just enough damage to make a mess,” Tonya Murphy said. After her parents died, their house located in Eubank has been vacant for about three years. Vandals took advantage of this fact over last weekend, as they forced their way into the house via a patio door and began cutting copper wire. The majority of the damage occurred in the basement where they cut and snipped at copper wire and pipes leading to the water heater. Also cut were copper plumbing pipes and coax cables.

Charged -  Duane Morgan, 45, of 148 W. Lexington Ave., was charged Sunday with violation of a domestic violence or emergency protection order. Report - At 12:15 p.m. Monday, employees of Utilipath at 4374 Revilo Road reported that someone entered the lot during the weekend and took copper and bolt cutters from four different trucks. Approximately 1,225 feet of copper wire and cable were taken.

An overnight theft at the new hospital construction site cost the builders 90,000 feet of copper wire. Deputies were called to the construction site on Croxston Way Tuesday morning after the theft was discovered. So far, no charges have been filed. Detective Brian Caudill of the Clark County Sheriff's Office said about 36 spools of small copper wire were taken from a locked storage area at the site. Each spool contained 2,500 feet of wire and weighed approximately 25 to 30 pounds, he said.