Published: August 29, 2008 09:53 pm            

CITY OF LOCKPORT: 2 charged in scrap metal theft

Two men have been charged with stealing a light post from a West Avenue business and selling it for scrap.

Donald C. Williamson, 19, 61 Willowbend, Village Trailer Park, and James J. Mix, 33, 5632 Bowmiller Road, were each charged Wednesday with petit larceny and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

A Ridgeview Drive woman reported Tuesday that over the weekend, someone had stolen a 12-foot light post from behind her West Avenue business.

The post had been lying on the ground awaiting repairs, the report said.

An employee of a local scrap metal dealer reported a light pole matching that description had come in on Saturday. The employee reportedly said he had paid Mix $28.80 for the pole.

The employee said the pole had already been cut up and taken from the yard by the time police inquired about it.

He provided officers with a description of the truck used and a video of the post being delivered.

The post is worth about $500, the report said.

Mix allegedly admitted he and Williamson had taken the light post from behind the building.

Mix reportedly said they pulled into a nearby gas station and saw the light pole lying on the ground. They loaded it into the truck, with Williamson in the bed of the pickup to keep the pole in place, and drove to the scrap metal dealer, the report said.

Each suspect was released on his own recognizance.

They are due Wednesday in Lockport City Court.

        

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