Horry County police charged two Conway men, Troy Michael Abreu, 21, and Scott William Hahn, 45, with Larceny.
Police say the two stole copper wiring and scrap metal from a home on Long Avenue Extension near Conway (www.cityofconway.com/) on January 4th (see story below).
Police say the attached surveillance pictures show the two men stealing the wiring and metal.
On Wednesday, an officer patrolling Meadowlark Circle saw a red pick up truck that fit the description of the truck from the surveillance video.
Police arrested Abreu and Hahn on Thursday. Abreu has been released on bond. Hahn is at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.
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Story posted 1/18/2011
Horry County police are looking for two men who stole copper wiring and scrap metal from a home on Long Avenue Extension near Conway on January 4th.
The suspects and their truck were captured on surveillance video and the pictures from that video are attached.
If you know who these men may be or recognize the truck, you're asked to call the Horry County Police Criminal Investigations Division at 915-8345, Dispatch at 248-1520 or if you wish to remain anonymous at 915-TIPS(8477).
On the surface, a crime like the one being investigated here may seem like just an annoyance to the homeowner. But copper theft is big business. According to a website called Coppertheft.info, "Skyrocketing prices for metals, especially copper, have made what was once a minor nuisance into a major problem costing over $1 billion a year according to the US Dept of Energy. Pipes, wires, cables, gutters, flashing are being torn from walls and buildings. Roof-top air units are being stripped of their copper coils."
In many cases, the damage left behind by copper thieves is even more expensive to the victim than the actual theft itself. We've also reported previously on CarolinaLive.com that copper theft is dangerous to the thief. Last fall a man was electrocuted in North Carolina trying to cut wires from a substation.
WPDE NewsChannel 15 was the victim of copper theft last fall as well. The case remains unsolved.
