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TOWN OF CHEMUNG, N.Y. — Two Elmira residents were arrested Thursday morning after being caught stealing copper piping from a property in Chemung County.
Alexander J. Root, 30, and Austin M. Smith-Halpin, 26, were charged with third-degree burglary, a class D felony. Troopers noticed a pickup truck at the property along County Route 60 around 12:15 a.m. and contacted the owner, who confirmed no one was allowed on-site.
Upon entering the building, officers found Root and Smith-Halpin cutting copper from the ceiling. No other suspects were located during a sweep of the premises by multiple law enforcement units.
Both men were arraigned in Town of Chemung Court and released, with a scheduled court return on Dec. 17.
