Gilbert Man, Woman Charged With Stealing Metal from Home

Lexington County deputies arrested a Gilbert man and woman Saturday who they say stole sheet metal from a building outside a home and broke into the home to steal copper wire and pipes. 

Jennifer Hatchell, 25, and Jeremy Earl Warner, 34, are each charged with third-degree burglary, petit larceny, obtaining ferrous metals unlawfully and possessing implement capable of being used to commit a crime, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.

At about 12:25 p.m. Saturday, deputies went to the home on Main Street to investigate suspicious activity that was reported, according to the sheriff's department. Deputies found Hatchell walking out of the back porch, with a crowbar in her hands.

Deputies found Warner in woods near the storage building outside the home, according to the sheriff's department. Portions of the sheet metal roof on the storage building had been removed, with sheet metal piled by the building.

Hatchell had a backpack that contained a hammer, tin snips, a screwdriver, a prying tool and one flashlight, according to the sheriff's department. 

Deputies found that multiple holes had been cut in the drywall and living room floor in the Main Street home in order to remove copper wire, according to the sheriff's department. Holes also had been cut in the bathroom floor in order to remove copper pipes that connect to the home’s water heater.

Hatchell was being held Monday at the Lexington County Detention Center on bail totaling  $27,130. Warner, who is Hatchell’s boyfriend and the father of her child, was also being held at the detention center on bail totaling $27,130. 

Anyone with information about additional criminal activity involving Hatchell or Warner should contact the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at 803-785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.