BEDFORD – A Mitchell man was arrested after Bedford Police say he committed the crime of theft.
On December 17, 2021, at 9:15 a.m. officers were called to a home in the 970 block of Lilac Lane after a report of the theft of building materials. When officers arrived at the construction site they learned a 250-foot roll of 12-2 wire was missing, valued at $155 and a 250-foot roll of 14-2 wire was missing, valued at $125 were missing. Also missing were two copper plumbing fittings valued at $25.
The missing items were stolen sometime after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, December 15th, and before Friday, December 17th at 7:30 a.m.
A neighbor told the construction foreman that they had seen a male digging through a dump trailer at the site. The neighbor thought this was suspicious and took photos of the male and his vehicle.
Police then went to the recycling center on Summit Lane and showed the photo of the male to the employees. They were able to identify the male as 29-year-old Samuel Payton.
Officers spoke over the phone with Payton about the theft. He admitted to going through a few dump trailers at the construction site. But he denied taking the wire or the copper fittings. However, police were able to prove Payton had burned off the wire and turned in 21 pounds of copper wiring on December 17th at 3:01 p.m. and received $99.52. Police also recovered two copper pipe fittings from the recycling center, the same ones stolen from the construction site.
The information was forwarded to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office and a warrant was issued for Payton’s arrest on a charge of theft.
