Tilton Pd arrest one in $180,000 copper theft

TILTON - Police have charged a local man with stealing over $180,000 in copper piping from three air conditioning units stored behind the former AutoServ Nissan Dealership on West Main Street.

Chief Robert Cormier said Thomas Ware, 25, of 31 Willow St. allegedly broke into each 20-foot roof unit through a steel door and systematically cleaned out the insides. He said all the copper pipes, motors and wiring were disassembled to remove all of the copper.

Detectives Nate Buffington and Matt Dawson investigated and were able to determine a primary suspect because his name popped up in a similar Concord Police Department investigation.

Based on what they knew and what they learned from Concord police, Tilton police obtained warrants and said Ware confessed during questioning. He is charged with burglary and felony theft.

Cormier said Ware was also arrested in January and charged with stealing auto parts. He said that case is pending trial.

Anyone with any additional information is asked to call the Tilton Police Department at 286-8207.