Two sets of calls to the sheriff’s office last Tuesday allowed deputies to piece together the activities of an Elon man who has since been charged with trying to steal copper out of a rural Burlington church.
The first call involved a “suspicious person” at Pollard Avenue and Melrose Drive in Burlington.
While they were interviewing the suspect, another call was placed by a person who saw a person at Zion Church, 2262 Burch Bridge Road, Burlington, who had discovered that wiring and a cut gas line had been discovered at the church.
The witness at the church told deputies that the man had been wearing a red hoodie, gray jeans, black cap, with a book bag, and that he had been walking around the church and appeared to be tampering with the power meter.
The description matched that of the person the first deputies had been interviewing at Pollard Avenue and Melrose Drive.
Subsequent discovery of evidence prompted deputies to arrest the man and take him to the jail.
Robert Edward Jeffers, black, male, 36, of 919 East Haggard Avenue, Elon, was charged with one count of felony injury to property to obtain nonferrous metals (copper);
and one count of misdemeanor damage to a building/church by cutting copper gas line. He was placed under $5,000 secured bond.
OTHER SHERIFF’S OFFICE ARRESTS OVER PAST WEEK:
Graham and Mebane teens charged with child pornography: https://alamancenews.com/graham-and-mebane-teens-charged-with-child-pornography/
Graham couple charged with credit card theft: https://alamancenews.com/graham-couple-charged-with-credit-card-theft/
Unconscious driver ultimately charged with outstanding warrants, drug offenses: https://alamancenews.com/deputies-check-on-unconscious-driver-nets-arrest/
Woman who claimed to be “taking pictures” of home in southern Alamance arrested for breaking and entering: https://alamancenews.com/woman-claims-to-be-taking-photos-of-house-actually-she-and-accomplice-had-broken-into-it/