Man charged in attempted copper theft in Plymouth

A Connecticut man posing as a subcontractor for a telecommunications company was arrested after allegedly trespassing onto state property in Plymouth and attempting to steal copper materials, state police said.

Troopers assigned to Troop L in Litchfield were dispatched to the area of 297 North Street in Plymouth around 8:16 a.m. on Wednesday after an alarm was activated at the Connecticut Telecommunications System Radio Site 10 Tower, according to the Connecticut State Police.

As troopers arrived, they said they encountered a man, later identified as 35-year-old Nicholas Parent, walking within a fenced-in area.

Parent initially told troopers that he was a subcontractor for a telecommunications company, but he was “unable to provide any documentation verifying his employment or the nature of his work assignment,” state police said.

A telecommunication engineer for the state of Connecticut was called to the scene and asked to perform an inspection of the site, according to state police.

During the investigation state police said burglary tools were discovered. State police allege that Parent criminally trespassed onto state property using bolt cutters and attempted to take copper materials secured within the fenced-in area.

According to state police, Parent admitted to attempting to steal copper materials, and in doing so caused an estimated $5,000 in damages.

Parent was placed under arrest and taken to Troop L, where he was processed and charged with possession of burglary tools, third-degree criminal trespass, first-degree criminal mischief and first-degree larceny. He was released on a $20,000 surety bond and is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 24 at New Britain Superior Court.