Allegany Man Behind Bars After Copper Theft
By: Ciara Brown
Updated: January 10, 2013
ALLEGANY COUNTY, PA - The Allegany County Sheriff's Department in Pennsylvania arrested a man after trying to sell stolen copper pipes to a local salvage yard.
Police say Blake Edward Cronk, 24, of Westernport, broke into a vacant home on Maryland Avenue on December 27, 2012. Police say Cronk entered through the basement door and cut copper pipe from the basement ceiling and bound three bundles of them together with duct tape.
Police say Cronk fled the scene on foot before he could steal the pipes.
Police say a deputy had placed two business cards inside two pieces of copper pipe left behind. Local salvage yards were then asked to contact police if someone cam to their business to make a copper pipe transaction.
Police say two hours later Westernport Salvage Yard called saying Cronk had brought some copper pipe to sell. The salvage yard employee told the deputy he found a business card with the deputy's name on it inside the pipe.
Cronk is charged with first and fourth-degree burglary, theft less than $100, and destruction of property over $500.
A subsequent investigation that occurred on Christmas resulted in charging Cronk with first and third-degree burglary and malicious destruction of property over $500. This was also at a vacant home on Maryland Avenue. Copper pipes and electrical wire were stolen during this incident.
During a hearing on January 2nd, Cronk was placed on $8,500 bond and currently remains at the Allegany County Detention Center on a total of $7,500 after bond reviews of the other warrents.
Police say Blake Edward Cronk, 24, of Westernport, broke into a vacant home on Maryland Avenue on December 27, 2012. Police say Cronk entered through the basement door and cut copper pipe from the basement ceiling and bound three bundles of them together with duct tape.
Police say Cronk fled the scene on foot before he could steal the pipes.
Police say a deputy had placed two business cards inside two pieces of copper pipe left behind. Local salvage yards were then asked to contact police if someone cam to their business to make a copper pipe transaction.
Police say two hours later Westernport Salvage Yard called saying Cronk had brought some copper pipe to sell. The salvage yard employee told the deputy he found a business card with the deputy's name on it inside the pipe.
Cronk is charged with first and fourth-degree burglary, theft less than $100, and destruction of property over $500.
A subsequent investigation that occurred on Christmas resulted in charging Cronk with first and third-degree burglary and malicious destruction of property over $500. This was also at a vacant home on Maryland Avenue. Copper pipes and electrical wire were stolen during this incident.
During a hearing on January 2nd, Cronk was placed on $8,500 bond and currently remains at the Allegany County Detention Center on a total of $7,500 after bond reviews of the other warrents.
