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Richmond police sting nabs 2 for copper thefts

Posted at 3:38 PM, Apr 17, 2013
and last updated 2013-04-17 15:38:48-04
Alleged Copper Thieves

Lamont A. Phillips and Ebon J. Fife (SOURCE: Richmond police)

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) — Richmond police said that two men have been arrested in connection with copper thefts.

Richmond police spokesperson James Mercante said that a covert operation Tuesday night led to the arrests.

Ebon J. Fife, 25, of the 300 block of Hibiscus Drive in Henrico, and Lamont A. Phillips, 31, of the 17100 block of Pryor Lane in Montpelier were charged with larceny.

Mercante said that after a string of copper thefts in Ginter Park, and nearby neighborhoods, Fourth Precinct officers decided to stage a covert surveillance operation.

Shortly after the operation started, a patrol officer was alerted to a suspicious person just three blocks away in the area of the Children’s Hospital at 2924 Brook Road.

Those officers helped the patrol officer apprehend Fife and Phillips — and recover the stolen property.