Police Say They Caught Schuylkill County Copper Wire-stealing Duo in the Act

Police say they caught a Schuylkill County copper wire-stealing duo in the act over the weekend.

According to court documents, at just before 5 p.m. on Aug. 9, an off-duty Saint Clair Police officer called in to say he had information that a male and a female were at a location along Tunnel Rd. Police say the location where the duo was located was a known “theft location.”

The off-duty officer further reported that the male – later identified as Michael Donaldson, 43, was carrying a reciprocating saw standing alongside Tunnel Rd. and is actively trying to pull 900 Pair and 600 Pair cable down off the power line.

Police say they used this information and arrived at the scene on foot. They say wire was already cut and hanging down from the power line. It was swaying as if it had just been cut.

As police got closer to the scene, they say a male (Donaldson) and a woman (later identified as Antoinette Coleman) were seen and taken into custody without incident.

Later, that off-duty officer provided surveillance video and images of the latest reported theft incident on Aug. 9. Police say the video shows Donaldson attempting to remove wire from the power line for about five minutes.

Another clip reportedly shows Coleman handing Donaldson a cable winch pulley to help him getting the wire.

Police say they had been investigating the reported theft of 900- and 600 Pair cable along Tunnel Rd. for a year. The cable is owned by Verizon and it’s used there to provide phone service to about 200 customers.

A Verizon representative reportedly told police that there had been about $30,000 in damages and labor costs incurred since the start of the police investigation into the thefts.

Police have charged Donaldson with felony offenses of theft, receiving stolen property, and criminal mischief. He’s also been charged with possessing an instrument of crime.

He was arraigned on Saturday night before Magisterial District Judge AJ Serina, who set bail at $50,000 cash, which hasn’t been posted. Donaldson is currently being held at Schuylkill County Prison awaiting a preliminary hearing on Aug. 19.

Charges have not been filed against Coleman.

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