Father-Son Duo Accused of Stealing Copper

Police say they caught a father and son team stealing copper out of two vacant Upper Southampton buildings Thursday afternoon.

Robert Bianchini, 62, and his son, Jesse Lee Bianchini, 35, who both have no fixed address, are accused of ripping copper from the walls of two buildings at 1216 Street Rd. shortly after noon Thursday, Police Chief Ron MacPherson said.

Patrol officers spotted suspicious activity at the property and stopped to investigate. The father and son team were discovered by officers taking copper plumbing, wires, and fixtures, said the Chief.

He added, some of the copper was ripped from the walls of the building causing moderate damage to the structures. Both buildings are up for sale and have only been vacant for a few years.

Both the men tried to convince arriving officers they were doing work to the buildings on behalf of the property owners, MacPherson said.

The duo is facing charges of burglary, criminal trespass, conspiracy, theft, and other related offences. Also, one of the men is facing addition charges after police discovered he had drug paraphernalia, MacPherson said.

Patrol officers and detectives spent a portion of Thursday afternoon at the property gathering evidence against Robert and Jesse Bianchini.

The men were arraigned before Magistrate Judge Philip J. Daly around midnight and were remanded to county jail after being unable to post 10 percent of their $25,000 bail, according to court records.

Court documents also show, Jesse Bianchini was recently arrested by after they say he stole a container holding $100.00 in coins and currency that was to benefit a charity that helps fund retinal blindness cures.

Near-record high prices for copper and the downturn in the nation’s economy are thought by authorities to be the reason for the recent uptick in metal theft across the nation.

The theft of copper comes at great risk to the thieves, who could be electrocuted if the metal is carrying a current, and great cost to taxpayers, who often foot the bill when copper is taken from municipal facilities and public infrastructure, according to a recent Inquirer article.

If you spot suspicious activity in the township contact Upper Southampton Police at 215-364-5000.