Police charge two men with copper theft

Abbeville police arrested two men Sunday in connection with a copper theft from a Henry County warehouse, according to a statement from the Abbeville Police Department. Investigators charged 31-yearold Jeff Ellis Oakley and 50-yearold Donald Craig Deaton each with felony first-degree theft of property.

Franklin Hardwood on Singletary Road has reportedly become the victim of numerous copper thefts over the past few weeks, causing severe damage to the electrical structure of the building.

Police, who had been watching the building, arrested the two men Sunday morning after they saw the men use a saw in an attempt to cut copper wire from the building, the statement said. Both men were released from custody after they posted a $25,000 bond each.