Police Make Arrest in New Bedford Copper Theft

An unoccupied home in the north end was the target of a copper thief. An alert neighbor called police to a Harwich Street address and where they found the suspect in the rear yard in possession of a backpack containing screwdrivers, a hammer and pliers and in the basement,  police found a hacksaw with copper piping piled up and ready to go.

Police arrested 44 year old Jospeh Buelterman of Shaw Street and charged him with breaking and enteringin the daytime and possession of burglarious tools. He's being arrainged in district court. Buelterman also had default warrants for drug violations as well as a default warrant for a break into a house last year in Conneticut where copper piping was taken.