FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A Montgomery man is facing charges after being caught on surveillance video twice stealing copper piping from a local dentist’s air conditioning unit, causing more than $12,000 in damage.
According to Chief Paris Workman of the Montgomery Police Department, the first incident occurred on Monday, May 19, at Dr. Jack Bernardo’s dental office located at 202 3rd Avenue. Dr. Bernardo contacted authorities after noticing the building was unusually hot and discovered the copper piping had been cut and stolen from his outside air conditioning unit.
The situation escalated when, on Wednesday, May 28 at approximately 2:00 a.m., the suspect, identified as Eric Simmons, returned to the scene. Surveillance cameras captured him stealing the remaining copper piping and wiring, causing further destruction to the already-damaged unit.
Video footage clearly showed Simmons wearing a Spider-Man mask, camo backpack, and gloves—items later found in his possession.
That same day around 10:30 a.m., Detective Hall and Patrolman Ridenour stopped Simmons and interviewed him. A search of his backpack, which matched the one in the surveillance footage, uncovered the mask, gloves, pieces of copper piping, electrical tape, and a voltage meter—all consistent with the crime.
Simmons has been charged with petit larceny and destruction of property. Police say the investigation remains ongoing and encourage any additional witnesses or businesses affected by similar thefts to come forward.
