WARWICK — A Pittsfield man was arrested Sunday when neighbors contacted the police after noticing suspicious activity at a vacant residence.
Joseph Daigle, 45, was arraigned Monday in Orange District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to single counts of larceny from a building and destruction of property. A judge imposed $500 bail.
Warwick Police Chief David Shoemaker said neighbors spotted two unknown people at 6 Robbins Road and notified police. He said he arrived and made contact with a man, identified as Daigle, as well as a woman. He said Daigle claimed they were “from the bank” and were inspecting the property.
After Northfield Police Officer John Cowan arrived to assist, the two found two piles of freshly cut copper plumbing pipes behind the residence, along with tools that were apparently used to cut and remove the pipes from the house. Shoemaker estimated there were 20 pipes ranging in length from 5 to 8 feet.
Daigle was arrested, the chief said. The woman, who Shoemaker said stayed in the passenger seat of the vehicle the two had used, was summoned to appear in court at a later date.
“We’re doing a little more investigation on that,” Shoemaker noted. “She was not found in the building; denied being any part of it.”
The chief said the property has been vacant since the homeowner died a few years ago. He also praised the two neighbors whose vigilance led to the arrest.
“This is a perfect example of: If something doesn’t feel right, maybe it’s not,” he said. “And it’s no bother for the police department to check these out; it’s what we’re here for.”
