[StBernard] Chalmette man booked with copper thefts

[Westley Annis]

Chalmette man booked with copper thefts
Posted by St. Bernard bureau June 08, 2007 9:59AM
St. Bernard bureau
A Chalmette resident walked into his home one recent afternoon to find a man
trying to steal copper, authorities said. 

The alleged thief pulled a knife on the resident and fled, but was caught by
St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputies a short while later as he walked along
a nearby street, the Sheriff's Office said. 

Deputies said Jonathan Messa, 23, of 300 Riess Place, Chalmette, has been
booked with aggravated burglary, six counts of burglary and one count of
theft. 


A news release from the Sheriff's Office said a resident walked into his
house in the 2500 block of Buffon Street on May 30 to find a man later
identified as Messa trying to steal copper. 

Copper theft is a growing problem in St. Bernard Parish and areas of New
Orleans where residents are attempting to rebuild homes damaged by flooding
during Hurricane Katrina. Thieves have targeted copper because they are able
to get high prices for the metal at scrap yards. 

After being confronted by the homeowner, Messa allegedly pulled a knife on
the resident and fled, the news release said. The homeowner alerted
authorities and deputies found Messa a short time later walking in the 100
block of Riess Place. The victim identified Messa as the man he saw inside
his home, the news release said. 

After Messa was taken into custody, he showed deputies seven other Chalmette
locations where he had allegedly stolen copper wire. The locations were
2608, 2612, 2616, 2705 and 2800 Rosetta Drive, 321 D'Amore Drive and 207 E.
Casa Calvo Street.