[StBernard] St. Bernard sheriff says scrap metal theft has been a major problem since Hurricane Katrina

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Wed Apr 24 08:57:07 EDT 2013


St. Bernard sheriff says scrap metal theft has been a major problem since
Hurricane Katrina

After two New Orleans men and a Chalmette men were arrested on suspicion of
stealing copper from air-conditioning units, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff
Jimmy Pohlmann said the arrests "show theft of copper for sale to scrap
metal dealers remains a problem law enforcement agencies are still battling
long after Hurricane Katrina."

"The storm created a cottage industry for thieves because it left so many
vacant buildings dotting the landscape," Pohlmann said.

Two New Orleans men were found Tuesday about 12:30 a.m. on the roof of the
old Winn-Dixie store on West Judge Perez Drive in Arabi, where they had
broken into the business, then cut a lock to get on the roof where they
tried to take apart the air-conditioning systems to steal copper and other
parts, according to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office. The men had a
rental truck outside to haul away the stolen items but they never made it
back to the vehicle.

John Lyerly, 51, and Norman Clark, 60, who both have criminal records, were
booked with burglary and were being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison on
Tuesday night in lieu of $35,000 bonds.

The men had tried lying down on the roof to escape the notice of police. A
man identifying himself as property manager for the building said he had
called the Sheriff's Office after he saw two men enter the building and then
appear on the roof.

In another incident less than a day earlier, a Chalmette man was found
Monday about 3 a.m. in the attic of a Chalmette duplex that was under
renovation. Deputies discovered him cutting copper pipe from the
air-conditioning system, the sheriff said.

William Manino, 39, of the 3400 block of Evangeline Drive, Chalmette, was
arrested after the unoccupied side of a double residence on Evangeline, near
his own residence, was broken into, the sheriff said.

Manino was being held in the St. Bernard Parish Prison on Tuesday night in
lieu of a $41,400 bond. He was booked with burglary, attempted theft,
criminal damage and possession of burglary tools.

The Sheriff's Office was notified after an occupant on the other side of the
duplex heard someone next door.

Manino allegedly told deputies that a man he knew only as John had broken
into the duplex with him but left before deputies arrived.




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