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Century Man Charged With Stealing Copper Wire, Boat Motor
May 2, 2016
A Century man has been arrested for stealing heavy duty copper wiring from the former Century High School and a boat motor from a private residence.
Nicholas Depue was charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure and two counts of grand theft, all felonies.
The former Century High School is currently being demolished due to tornado damage. But the building Depue entered was secured, according to an arrest report. He allegedly removed a wood covering over a window and broke the window to enter the building. Inside the building he took about 28 pieces of heavy duty copper wiring about 6-8 feet in length valued at about $600. The wiring was then hid in bushes about 1,000 feet from the school.
When investigators contacted Depue at his Front Street home, he admitted to the theft and showed deputies where the wire was located, an arrest report states. The wire was returned to the demolition company that is removing the school.
Depue is also accused of stealing a $4,000 Evinrude boat motor from a home on North Century Boulevard. The motor was attached to a 16-foot aluminum boat and was parked in the rear area of a yard. Depue then allegedly sold the boat motor to a Flomaton man for $800. The stolen boat motor was recovered.
Depue remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday morning with bond set at $10,000
Comments
8 Responses to “Century Man Charged With Stealing Copper Wire, Boat Motor”
Recycling and scraping metal is a wonderful pastime to get into. STEALING and trespassing is the crime.
An individual that does not bring in scrap on a regular basis, should be suspect.
Especially scrap that is not of the “consumer variety”.
But photographing and I.D. info is easily avoided by the criminal.
I find it funny that through all of these comments, well most, we are blaming the scrap people. How about holding the people accountable and not expecting a scrap yard to do more than they are required to. Its not the scrap yards fault that people steal. How about we have a better pay and better work routes for the police so that they can do their job more effectively and patrol more areas? How about we not allow thieves and drug dealers back out on the streets after 2 weeks in jail. Harsher punishment and better law enforcement. And that doesn’t mean that the ones we have aren’t amazing. It means they deserve MORE RESOURCES and more help.
Last time I went to “that” scrapyard in Flomaton, I had to show photo ID and they had a camera that filmed the transaction. So, how much more are they expected to do?
I’m glad the guy got his boat motor back. I can’t imagine ours being stolen. It would be heart breaking.
The one thing i can’t seem to wrap my head around is the how he managed this by himself. I know it would not be impossible for one person, but it would be tough.
We have a 25 horse Johnson that weighs about 115 lbs and is awkward to handle. I’m told that a boat that size is rated for a 25 to a 40 horse motor or maybe even bigger depending on the manufacturer.
Anyway, I’m not an expert. Just wondering.
I know this copper wasn’t sold but they need to start going after the recycling companies who purchase copper from individuals who they know shouldn’t have large amounts of copper. They need to start taking pictures of them and the copper they are trying to sell.
One of the junk yards in flomaton routinely takes stolen materials. I had a radiator from an Rv stolen and sold there. The owners claim no knowledge and no fault. Right. I know there are honest people that haul scrap but some things are just obvious. People have had scrap stolen off their own property and sold by thieves as well.
Glad the fella got his motor back. Sorry the fella is out $800. I bust my butt and fortunate to have a few boats and motors and for the work I do to buy them makes them mean a lot to me.
Go to work buddy, manage your money to fit your lifestyle and you won’t have to steal.