Feb 8, 2013 2 min read

A Peters Township man was charged with Thursday with the theft of a utility trailer containing about 500 feet of aluminum wire owned by West Penn Power.

Mark Anton, 55, of 110 Fireside Drive, was charged with theft by Cecil Township police Detective Mark Marcucci at the office of District Judge Valarie Costanzo.

A power company crew was installing underground service to a home at 484 Morganza Road Jan. 30. The crew stopped work because of inclement weather but left the trailer and wire at the site to work on another job on Georgetown Road.

While working on the second job, a forestry supervisor for the power company saw a pickup truck drive by pulling the trailer with the wire. He followed the truck into North Strabane Township.

On Ross Road at Green Valley Road, the driver pulled over. The occupants got out and told the supervisor, “We know you are calling the cops. Give us a break.” The driver and a passenger, later identified as Anton by the supervisor, disconnected the trailer and drove off.

Marcucci said Anton was a passenger in his own truck because his license is suspended. Police have not determined the identity of the truck driver.

Anton was placed in Washington County Jail on a probation violation. He will be arraigned before Costanzo at a later date.