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Broadcast time: 12:25 PM |
Date: February 13, 2020 |
As part of ongoing complaints of the theft of copper wire, the Sarnia Police Service COPPS Unit initiated surveillance in the area of the City’s chemical plants (Vidal Street) in an attempt to locate suspects.
On February 13, 2020, during the very early morning hours, a pickup was driven through a property adjacent to one of the local plants in the City of Sarnia to the fence line. Three suspects then proceeded to cut a hole in the fence and entered onto the plant’s property.
Once within the plant the thieves made their way to a compound where the wire was located and cut into that fenced in area. The criminals began cutting the large gauge copper wire from spools and then placed the pieces onto the back of a work truck within the plant, that belonged to a contractor.
The thieves then drove the truck through the plant back towards their point of entry. Employees in the plant saw the truck being driven and knew immediately that the occupants of the truck did not belong there. The employees made the truck stop but the suspects jumped out of the truck and began running through the refinery.
The Sarnia Police Service COPPS Unit officer, who was already in the area, along with a plant employee, tracked the suspects and thanks to the fresh snow fall all three men were arrested in short time without any incident.
The following three men were arrested and face the according charges:
- James John Dionne, 45 years of age, of Sarnia, faces one count of break and enter, one count of theft under $5,000, one count of theft over $5,000, and one count of mischief over $5,000
- David Jason Petrany, 49 years of age, of Sarnia, faces one count of break and enter, one count of theft under $5,000, one count of theft over $5,000, and one count of mischief over $5,000
- Roy Ronald Weatherhead, 46 years of age, of Sarnia, faces one count of break and enter, one count of theft under $5,000, one count of theft over $5,000, and one count of mischief over $5,000
All three were held for a bail hearing sometime today.
It is estimated that approximately 500 pounds of large gauge copper wire was loaded onto the back of the contractor’s pickup truck with a scrap metal value of $1350.
Constable Giovanni Sottosanti
Media Officer
Tel: 519-344-8861 Ext 6168
Email: 168@police.sarnia.on.ca