Police: Two arrested trying to steal copper

By Jim Patten
Staff Writer

May 17, 2008 01:43 am

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HAVERHILL — A copper theft attempt was foiled by an alert neighbor who saw an unfamiliar van parked at a nearby house on Hillside Street and called police, said Detective Capt. Alan Ratte.

Police arrived to find two men removing copper pipes in the basement Thursday at 11:50 a.m., he said. A white van was parked outside, and the back door of the house was open.

When officers looked through a small hole in the floor, they saw the men bending a long length of copper pipe, Ratte said.

Joseph Anderson, 23, of Tyngsborough, and David Pento, 21, 4 Lafayette St., Haverhill, were arrested and charged with breaking and entering in the daytime with intent to commit a felony and malicious damage to property over $250.

Anderson also was charged with possession of burglary tools, police said.