Police: Man Caught Stealing Copper Downspouts From Church
A Lakewood resident who was walking his dog noticed the theft early Monday morning.
A man who was walking his dog at about 4 a.m. Monday noticed someone trying to steal the copper downspouts from Pilgrim Saint Lutheran Church and called police, Lakewood Police Chief Tim Malley said.
Officers arrived and searched the area until they found the suspect — 34-year-old Jason Kauffman of Cleveland — hiding on Marlowe, Malley said.
Police also found the stolen downspouts.
Kauffman was charged with misdemeanor counts of petty theft and trespassing.
This is the second reported scrap theft in the last three days in Lakewood. Aluminum, gutters and storm windows were reported stolen from the backyard of a home in the 1400 block of Winton on Feb. 23.
Malley said that, at this time, it could not be assumed that the two thefts are related.
The theft on Winton is still under investigation and anyone with information regarding it is encouraged to call the Lakewood Police Department at 216-521-6773.
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Pilgrim Saint Paul Lutheran Church
14224 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH -
City of Lakewood Police
12650 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH
Gary Hudson
9:59 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Throw the book at him. I think it should give you the right to check out where he lives for further stolen merchandise as well. Why can't we do something about the scrap yards that take in this stolen stuff? Inspect them . Why not require them to record the identification of the person turning in questionable scrap. I don't want our homes turned into a bunch of boxes with aluminum siding flapping in the breeze.