Rusagonis woman accused of having stolen copper wire
Brittany Marie Alexander, 33, accused of possessing property obtained through the commission of crime, as well as several other counts
A Rusagonis woman will return to court later this month to enter pleas on a variety of criminal charges, including a count of possessing copper wire stolen from a telecommunications company.
Brittany Marie Alexander, 33, of Post Road, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Wednesday, accused of several offences last year and one earlier this year.
Among them is a Nov. 29 count of possessing copper wire, the property of Bell Aliant, knowing it was obtained through the commission of an offence.
That charge is alleged to have occurred at Haneytown, near Geary.
Alexander is also accused of break and enter with intent to commit a crime at business premises belonging to Max Roy on Branch Road in Geary; possession of break-in instruments, including a multi-tool, a ratchet and sawblades; and driving while prohibited.
Those counts allege offences June 14. Max Roy is the owner of Speedway 660.
Finally, the defendant is also accused of violating a police undertaking Jan. 20 requiring her to reside at a Post Road address and follow a curfew at that location.
Alexander asked for an adjournment Wednesday to seek counsel, and Judge Mary Jane Richards set the case over to April 12.
Copper thefts have been a frequent issue in the capital region for a few years, but they’ve become more pronounced in recent months, with some thefts being blamed for telecommunications outages as of late.
The RCMP announced last week that a 57-year-old Kingsley man was arrested March 31 in connection with the theft of a significant quantity of copper wire. The force said in a news release they got a tip about someone selling that wire March 23, and when officers responded to the scene, they seized about $10,000 worth of the wire.
The suspect arrested the following week was released on conditions and a promise to appear in court in July, the RCMP reported.
An Oromocto man was also detained in custody recently on suspicion of copper theft.
“On March 28, at approximately 11:30 a.m., members of the Oromocto RCMP responded to a report of a suspicious person near a power pole,” the Mounties said in a recent news release.
“When police arrived, they found a number of cut wires and fresh tracks in the snow. The individual, a 41-year-old man from Oromocto, was located and arrested a short time later with the assistance of RCMP police dog services.”
That suspect turned out to be Stuart McCann, 41, of Oromocto, and he was remanded into custody after his initial appearance in Fredericton provincial court March 29.
He faces charges of theft, mischief causing damage to property, and breaches of probation and a release order.
McCann is being held for a bail hearing scheduled for April 27.
Bell Aliant has reported several phone and Internet outages in recent months - including one as recently as last week - linked to the theft of copper wiring from its telecommunications infrastructure, and the RCMP has reported it’s an ongoing issue with which the public can help.
“There have been a number of copper wire thefts in the Fredericton and Oromocto areas recently causing losses to businesses, homes and government departments,” the force said in a recent news release.
“Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity near an electrical substation or power poles is asked to contact their local police department. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.”
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.