Published: June 06, 2008 11:10 pm      

Man charged with stealing copper

A Collinsville man has now been charged with the burglary of an unoccupied home that occurred at about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Geremy Scott Wilkerson, 25, was formally charged Wednesday with the crime. He is currently being held in the Lauderdale County Adult Detention Facility in Meridian. His bond request was revoked due to his already being out on bond for a previous offense.

LCSD Chief Dep. Ward Calhoun said deputies were called to a home located at the intersection of Mayatt and Hand roads Tuesday night by a man who said he was holding Wilkerson at gunpoint. When deputies arrived they were told the man, a resident of the area, noticed some strange activity at the abandoned home.

"We've had instances where thieves will break into old abandoned homes and steal the copper wiring, copper pipes and copper tubing from old window air conditioner units," said Calhoun. "As everyone knows copper is selling at pretty good prices right now."

When the neighbor walked over to the home to investigate, he reportedly found Wilkerson inside the home. The neighbor called 911 while holding Wilkerson at bay with his handgun.