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Delaware State Police
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State Police Charge Six with Stealing Copper from Local Farmer’s Irrigation Systems Released-Tuesday, April 15, 2008 Milford-State Police detectives from Troop 3 recently charged six people with several thefts of copper from farms in the Houston and Milford area. The crimes occurred between February and March of this year. The value of the stolen copper is estimated to be between $65,000.00 and $75,000.00. This investigation is ongoing; however the following individuals were identified as suspects during this investigation and charged: Daniel C. Klein, 26, of Harrington was arrested on Monday, April 14th and charged with the following criminal offenses: two counts of Theft (F), two counts of Conspiracy 2nd (F), two counts of Criminal Trespass 3rd (M), and Criminal Mischief (M). Klein was arraigned and released on $5,000.00 unsecured bond. Wendy Nichols, 30, of Harrington was arrested on Monday, April 14th and charged with the following criminal offenses: two counts of Theft (F), two counts of Conspiracy 2nd (F), two counts of Criminal Trespass 3rd (M), and Criminal Mischief (M). Nichols was arraigned and released on $5,000.00 unsecured bond. Kristyn Pipher, 23, of Milford was arrested on Wednesday, April 9th and charged with the following criminal offenses: seven counts of Theft (F), seven counts of Conspiracy 2nd (F), Criminal Mischief (F), five counts of Criminal Mischief (M), and six counts of Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree (M). Pipher was arraigned and released on $18,600.00 unsecured bond. Charles A. Sargent, 22, of Milford, was arrested on Wednesday, April 9th and charged with the following criminal offenses: seven counts of attempted theft (M), two counts of Theft of a Motor Vehicle (F), seven counts of Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree (M), two counts of Burglary 2nd Degree (F), nine counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree (F), Theft (M), nine counts of Theft (F), six counts of Criminal Mischief (M), and Criminal Mischief (F). Sargent was arraigned and committed to the Delaware Correctional Center in lieu of $48,700.00 cash bond. Bryan A. Benson, 21, of Milford was arrested on Wednesday, April 9th and charged with the following criminal offenses: seven counts of Theft (F), seven counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree (F), two counts of Criminal Mischief (F), three counts of Criminal Mischief (M), and six counts of Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree (M). Benson was committed to the Delaware Correctional Center in lieu $18,100.00 cash bond. Walter A. Cotier 3rd, 27 of Hartley was arrested on March, 27th and charged with the following criminal offenses: two counts of Burglary 2nd Degree (F), two counts of Theft (F), Theft (M), Theft of a Motor Vehicle (F), Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree (M), and Criminal Mischief (M). Cotier was arraigned and released on $18,050.00 unsecured bond.
State Police Caution Farmers Concerning Copper Thieves Targeting Irrigation Systems Released-Sunday, April 06, 2008 Kent/Sussex County, De.-State Police criminal investigators are cautioning local farmers to beware of thieves targeting the copper wiring on irrigation systems. Last year, there were more than forty reports of wire theft from irrigation systems in the two counties. A majority of these cases go unsolved because bandits target the irrigation machinery during the time of year when the systems are shutdown. The thefts are usually discovered well after the fact and reported when the irrigation systems are reactivated. The average cost to mend these irrigations systems is costly. Depending on the size of the apparatus, repairs are typically in the neighborhood of $10,000.00 to $400,000.00. Troopers urge farmers to conduct regular inspections of their irrigation systems and without delay, report any suspicious activity. Furthermore, victims are strongly encouraged to report thefts as soon as possible. Anyone with information pertaining to thefts of copper wire from irrigation systems or wishes to report a theft in Kent County should call Troop 3 (302) 697-4456 attention Detective Dan Wright. Sussex County residents should call Troop #4 (302) 856-5850 attention Detective Robert Truitt or Crime Stoppers 1-800-TIP-3333. On line tip submissions can be made via https://owa.state.de.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://dsp.delaware.gov/crimstop.htm.
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