Report: Cops Interrupt Attempted Copper Theft from Abandoned Home

A Bristol man is in custody after police say he attempted to steal copper piping out of an abandoned home on Hilltop Ave. Wednesday afternoon.

Brian Humel, 22, of Ritter Ave. in Bristol Township has been charged with multiple counts of burglary, criminal trespassing and criminal mischief and has been confined to Bucks County prison in lieu of a 10 percent payment on $10,000 bail.

According to the affidavit, police were dispatched to the house at approximately 3:20 p.m. Wednesday when a neighbor heard a window break.

As officers approached the house, loud banging noises could be heard, the affivavit says. Before they entered the home, Humel could be seen running toward them in the window, then turning around and running further into the residence, police say.

According to the criminal complaint, once the officers had the building surrounded, Humel came to the window and said, "I'm done." After Humel was placed into custody, officers searched the house and found multiple holes in the kitchen wall and bundles of copper wires placed in one of the bedrooms, police say.

The report says that officers also found multiple hammers, a pick axe and a set of bolt cutters throughout the house.