Lauderhill Police: Copper Thieves Busted
LAUDERHILL (CBS4) -- A pair of Lauderhill men face criminal charges after police say they stole industrial-sized heaters from two vacant assisted living facilities in order to cash in on the copper parts.
Lauderhill Police say they caught the copper thieves red-handed. Police say one of the suspects, Tavares Williams, admitted that he and his nephew, Elmore Amerson, broke into the buildings in the 5100 block of NW 28 Street several times earlier this month, ripped through the drywall and stole "large amounts of copper," according to a police report.
Police say they found receipts in Williams' van for the sale of copper on two of the dates the buildings were burglarized. Investigators say the owner of the building saw the men trying to pull off the crime and called 911. Police say they arrived and saw the men trying to load the water heaters into Williams' van.
Investigators say the damage to the drywall was approximately $10,000.
Both men appeared in bond court on Thursday, with one of the suspect's wives telling the judge that her husband has been unable to work due to a bad back.
Judge John Hurley said he was surprised to hear that the man could lift a large hot water heater.
"He has been on disability and hasn't worked for 10 years but he can carry two industrial sized heaters onto a van," Hurley said in court.
A police report says the men also tried to steal a hand truck and even a box of Christmas ornaments.
Both Williams and Amerson are charged with several counts of burglary.
