Copper was a desirable commodity in two of three separate incidents of burglary over the weekend in Conway, including two at local businesses and one at a home owned by Habitat for Humanity.
The project foreman for a residence under construction by Habitat for Humanity at Monroe Street contacted Conway police Tuesday to report that an unknown person or persons had gained entry into the home and cut the electrical wiring for copper material some time between Friday evening and Tuesday morning. Both of the doors to the residence were locked. The foreman reported it appeared the offender gained entry by climbing on top of rafters in the front porch area and crawling over the beams to access the rest of the residence.
An employee at Conway Scrap Metal on Spencer Street filed a report on New Year’s Eve after video surveillance revealed a male subject entered the property Saturday night through a fence at the business’ back lot, gaining entry by prying away part of a door frame at the shop’s east entrance. The subject was observed checking a cash register for money before leaving the building with a bucket full of copper and a large bag of brass around an hour and 20 minutes later. Video showed the same subject re-enetering the building on Sunday to steal more copper.
Police were dispatched to Mr. Brake and Lube on Oak Street Tuesday after an employee received a call from an area resident who reported a glass door at the back entry to the business was shattered. According to the police report, the suspect was unable to gain entry to the business when the glass shattered but did not fall from its frame. Two latent fingerprints discovered at the scene were submitted to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for examination. Nothing was reported missing.
There are no known suspects in any of the incidents and investigations into each of the burglaries are ongoing.
(Megan Reynolds is a staff writer and can be reached by phone at 505-1277 or by e-mail at megan.reynolds@thecabin.net.)