BATH

Police charged two local men with theft after they allegedly were in the process of stealing scrap metal from VIP Auto at 11 State Road.

Bath police Officer Michael Lever arrested Jacob Tillman, 19, of Brunswick on charges of theft and violation of bail conditions. Levers summonsed Alex King, 21, of Richmond, on a theft charge.

Bath police Lt. Robert Savary said Friday the theft of objects containing metal continues to plague the area.

“It’s been a big problem — the theft of scrap metal in various places,” Savary said. “They’re taking copper from vacant homes. CMP has been hit with their copper piping at their transformer stations.”

Savary said metal thieves typically sell the metal to business that purchase scrap metal. Sometimes, to avoid detection, they convince a friend to do the selling for them, he said.

Lever was on patrol at 12:46 a.m. Friday when he apprehended Tillman and King, Savary said.

“He saw their truck in the VIP lot,” Savary said. “He went in and saw a lot of metal lying out back and in the body of their truck. They said they had permission to be there.

“Officer Lever did a great job. He’s got a knack for catching people stealing on the overnight shift.”