Police: Men Attempted to Steal Copper Piping, Ruptured Water Main

Two men were arrested this week after police say their attempted copper piping theft caused a water main rupture and a flood in the basement of an abandoned home.

Royersford resident Michael A. Gauger, 36, and Russell Dyer, 45, of Macungie, each face felony charges of burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal trespassing, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property, plus a handful of additional charges stemming from the November 27 incident.

According to court documents, on Tuesday at 12:15 a.m. Phoenixville police received report of two men inside a vacant residence on the unit block of Cherry Street. Phoenixville police, along with officers from the East Pikeland Police Department, surrounded the residence and, upon entering it, found Gauger and Dyer cutting pipes and placed them under arrest.

While the two were attempting to steal the piping, they cut the pipe to the water main, causing a flood in the basement of the building.

The men, after interrogation at the station, admitted to picking the lock of the townhome with the intention of stealing copper piping.

The men face an initial preliminary hearing date on December 6.