Four Accused Of Stealing Copper Pipe From Foreclosed House

Maine State Police say four people are facing charges in connection with the theft of copper piping from a foreclosed house in Lebanon.

Police were first alerted that something was amiss at the residence on the Carl Broggi Highway in Lebanon when property managers noticed the foreclosure sign has been torn down. When they found two people inside the house, they contacted police, who responded at approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday. Troopers located 32-year-old Cody Mros of South Berwick and 36-year-old William Kimball of Lebanon in the house and discovered that they had forced their way inside through a rear door. Police say they gave false names, when first approached by police.

In addition to the two inside the house, one suspect was found in a shed, and another in the woods behind the home. Those two men have been identified as 48-year-old Shawn Sullivan of Union, New Hampshire and 35-year-old Benjamin Foster from Rochester, New Hampshire. All four men were charged with Class B Burglary and taken to the York County Jail, where bail was set at $2,500 cash. They were unable to post bail and will be arraigned at Springvale District Court on Monday. Police say further charges are pending.

Police say most of the copper piping had been cut from the residence and removed from the premises. Troopers found a television, household items, and furniture that were in the garage, waiting to be picked up. Altogether, police say the damage is estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

The investigation is ongoing and police are checking to see if there have been any other burglaries in the area.