Men caught stealing wiring in Coaldale

Two Berwick residents were arrested by Coaldale police in connection with the theft of wiring from a building owned by the Lehigh Anthracite Coal Company.

Police received a call at 2:30 p.m. March 14 reporting the smell of something burning and a suspicious pick up truck on coal company land near Third and Lehigh streets.

The suspect truck left the property at a high rate of speed, traveling west toward Tamaqua. A company employee was following the truck, which was eventually stopped by Tamaqua police.

The two occupants of the pickup were identified as Michael Powell, 48, and Anthony Leming, 51. The bed of the truck contained chains, shovels, picks and wiring. The men admitted being inside a building, removing wiring and using an old coal stove in the building to burn off the insulated coating.

In all, the coal company estimated damages to be in the $1,000 range.

Officers also found two pipes with residue in Powell’s truck and a plastic bag with a crystal-like substance in Leming’s pocket.

Both men were charged with criminal trespass, conspiracy, theft by unlawful taking, criminal mischief and possession of drug paraphernalia. Leming was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.