Two charged with stealing copper from vacant Pittsfield home

PITTSFIELD -- Two men were held overnight after being charged with breaking into a vacant home and stealing copper pipes and wires.

Jarrod Stanton, 35, of East Street, and Steven Winters, 31, of Hawthorne Avenue, were arrested by Pittsfield police on Monday afternoon after police received a report of two men walking in the vicinity of West Union and John streets with copper wire in hand and a backpack.

When police went to the abandoned home the two had allegedly been seen leaving, authorities discovered the entire building "in disarray," according to the police report. Copper pipes and wiring from every outlet, electrical box and faucet were missing, according to police.

Police located the two men, based on a matching description, at a local scrap yard. Police interviewed Winters, who had a 12-inch pry bar on him, along with a screwdriver, flashlight and a dirty hat. Winters told police he was waiting for his friend at the scrap yard.

Stanton was stopped by police after leaving the scrap yard. He allegedly told police that he had just sold copper wire that he picked up at a previous job for $22.

Stanton and Winters were both arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Monday in front of Judge Fredric Rutberg. They pleaded not guilty to charges of breaking and entering into a building, larceny, and possession of burglary tools. Rutberg set bail at $250 on the charges pending a future court date.

To reach Nathan Mayberg: nmayberg@berkshireeagle.com, or (413) 496-6243.

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Two charged with stealing copper from vacant Pittsfield home