3 Charged With Stealing Copper From Unoccupied Homes in Montco, Setting Fires To Cover Their Tracks
By Brad Segall
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Authorities in Montgomery County say they've broken up a copper theft ring that targeted homes in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Three people are now behind bars in lieu of $1 million bail each, charged with burglarizing ten homes and stealing copper piping, and then, in some of the homes, setting fires apparently in an effort to cover up the theft.
Grand jury documents indicate the three would log onto the web site realtor.com to find homes that were in foreclosure or a part of estate sales, indicating they might be vacant.
Prosecutor Kevin Steele says the motive is apparent.
"Well, this is clearly greed. These folks were out to make money. They set up a scheme to do so, and now they're going to be held responsible for it," he tells KYW Newsradio.
Prosecutors say the defendants' actions destroyed thousands of dollars' worth of property and endangered firefighters who were called to put out the blazes.
Investigators say their ability to use cell site analysis to track the phones of the defendants was a critical component in solving the case.
