Three Charged With Stealing Copper From Homes In Eddington, Clifton

A father and his two sons are accused of stealing copper from homes in Eddington and Clifton.

Tips from the public led troopers to John Oliva Jr., 45, and his two sons, John Oliva III, 26, and James Oliva, 24, both of Hermon, Maine State Police said in a news release Tuesday evening. The trio was charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief.

Police said a home on Main Road in Eddington was broken into Monday night, and copper pipes were stolen from the residence.

The owner had game cameras set up inside and outside the residence. The camera inside the home was stolen, the release said. However, the camera located outside the home gathered several images of the suspects.

The images were shared with local media and posted on the Maine State Police Facebook page. Police said they received several tips from the public.

While police were following up on those tips early Tuesday morning, they received another report of copper being stolen from a local residence. That report was in connection with a break-in at a home under construction on Nickerson Hill Road in Clifton.

Troopers believe there may be other structures that were broken into that haven’t been reported yet.