Exhaust pipe theft thwarted, police report

Adam Antonelle, 25, faces burglary, theft and tampering chargesafter police arrested him at Bristol Motor Works at 237 E. Main St.The incident happened about 2 a.m. Antonelle's address was notimmediately known at the time of his arrest, according to policelogs.

"Apparently he was stealing the exhaust pipe to cash it in forscrap," police spokesman Lt. Edward Spyros said.

The incident occurred nearly a week after officials alerted Bristolresidents to a raft of copper and metal thefts from vacant orunoccupied homes in the area.

Spyros said Monday it's too early to tell if there's a connectionbetween Antonelle's arrest and the earlier thefts.

Police were alerted to the presence of a suspicious person at theauto body shop by a neighbor who was awakened by the family cat'sstirring, Motor Works owner Alex Skempris said.

A segment of barbed wire that runs atop a metal fence surroundingthe property was reportedly cut.

Skempris said the suspect was still underneath the 1999 JeepCherokee when police arrived.

"When he saw them opening the gate, he was still under the car,"Skempris said. "I don't think he was very good at what he did."

Spyros said Antonelle led police on a short foot chase before beingapprehended - leading to a charge of interfering with an officer.He also said Antonelle was found with a bag of tools that wereallegedly involved in the incident.

Though similar thefts have occurred around Bristol in the past,Spyros said the increased frequency over the last 10 days isworrisome.

The cut was located inches from the vehicle's catalytic converter,a device that has become a common target among thieves because theitem's exterior is usually lined with precious metals likeplatinum.

Depending on the make and model, catalytic converters can commandup to $200 at scrap yards, but cost vehicle owners hundreds morethan that to replace them.

"I don't know for sure if it's connected to the other ones, butit's definitely a concern to police," Spyros said.

Skempris said as a safety measure, customer vehicles are alwayslocked inside his building after hours. But he acknowledged thatthe attempted theft could have left his business financiallydevastated.

"We've got in equipment in here worth 15-grand," he said. "Theycould have nailed us pretty hard."

Skempris said in the past, thieves have stolen aluminum hubcaps oreven wheels off vehicles, and his shop has also fallen victim topetty crimes like vandalism.

Still Skempris, who operates the family-owned business with hiswife Ann, took Monday's incident in stride.

"I'm glad they caught him, and I think times are tough. That causespeople to do all kinds of crazy things," he said. "There are a lotof people who don't want to work for a living, although cuttingcats (catalytic converters) off a car takes a lot of work."