UPDATE: Church Uses Baby Monitor To Help Nab Suspected Copper Thieves

December 2, 2011 1:30 PM

Reporting Nick Janes

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CARMICHAEL (CBS13) Members of a Carmichael church that had been targeted by copper thieves for two nights in a row managed to help nab the suspected thieves when the greedy pair returned for a third night.

Just hours after a report by CBS13’s Tony Lopez on the repeated copper theft at the church aired, the alleged suspects returned to the scene of the crime, but this time, church officials were prepared.

WATCH: Tony Lopez’ Original Report

They set up a baby monitor on top of the Carmichael Bible Church at 7100 Fair Oaks Blvd., hooked it up to a monitor and VCR, and took shifts watching it.

Around 4:30 Friday morning, more than six hours into the overnight stakeout, the alleged thieves returned and Pastor Jeff Livingston was watching. He saw the suspects return, alerted other members of the church and called authorities.

Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputies arrived shortly thereafter and arrested the pair, identified Friday as Curtis Darnell, 36, and Howard Sanders, 26.

Detectives are currently trying to determine if the two are responsible for the previous break-ins.

copper thefts UPDATE: Church Uses Baby Monitor To Help Nab Suspected Copper Thieves

Howard Sanders, 26, left, and Curtis Darnell, 36

“Like an adrenaline rush, ‘Hey guys come out here, come out here, they’re there,” Pastor Jeff told CBS13. “I believe that justice is served to the wicked. Sometimes we see that and sometimes we don’t. This time we got to be a part of it happening, so it feels good.”

The church is without heat right now because thieves grabbed copper from the heating and cooling system.

The suspects spent the first night preparing for the costly theft by draining the Freon out of the machines and tore out as much copper as they could carry on the second night.

When the thieves left behind tools, church officials were concerned that they may return for a third night and put their plan into place.

The damage will likely add up to more than $50,000.

Sanders and Darnell were each charged with felony counts of vandalism, grand theft and criminal conspiracy.

UPDATE: Church Uses Baby Monitor To Help Nab Suspected Copper Thieves

Bill

The frustration with thefts like this is that the junk yards know darn well it is stolen material yet they take it anyway because profit is all that matters…we have been Clintionized as a nation and hence our troubles….
dan zarpentine

all copper thieves should shot dead with lead. they wont do that again
JohnF

Releasing Freon into the atmosphere is a violation of federal environmental regulations carrying a $27,500.00 fine. That should be added to the charges too….

Scott

Right, because those two rocket scientist look like the type that will be financially successful in life.

It would be pointless, like suing broke people just because you’re angry. It doesn’t cause them to have money.

Ralph Gizzip

True, you can’t get blood from a stone. But Federal charges are much more severe than State charges and can be used to put these two Einsteins in a very nasty place.
Robert Jones

HARVEST THEIR ORGANS! DONATE THE REST TO RESEARCH AFTER EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT.

John

Notice the paster said ‘other businesses’. Are most churches businesses now?

AZdude

Are most i d i o t s Christians haters?

Randy Bobandy

How very Christian of you.

Randy Bobandy

Yep, tax-free businesses.
http://inalienablewrights.wordpress.com inalienablewrights

If they are a 501c3 as most are they sure are a business obligated to Caesar.

Doubltap

Just shoot them dead at the scene. No need to waste groceries on this kind of trash
Johnnie Flukie Redding

Sounds like entrapment to me, someone call Gloria AllMeds and see if she’ll take the case.
don

They’ve illegally released freon into the atmosphere. Last time I checked that was a death penalty offense with the feds. /s
robert g

Put up a sign. FREE LEAD for copper thieves.
JOe Dutra

Meth freaks.

http://inalienablewrights.wordpress.com inalienablewrights

The irony here is that most Christians support the un-godly and non-scriptural drug laws that often come back to bite them. In fact Christians support most of the things that are wrong with this world which is the ultimate irony.

http://thingsyourlocalpaperwillnevertellyou.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/christians-need-to-be-resposible-for-their-actions/

AZdude

Is “Howard Sanders” an alias for Sean Penn?
http://www.smithandwessonforums.com/forum/news-links-forum/12814-right-tool-right-job.html#post115998 The Right Tool For The Right Job!

[...] [...]
BigIdea

Why don’t we pay for copper recycling in something less attractive to street thugs-recycled copper is only good for something like milk, eggs, bread, etc. like food stamps. Or take it only in trade for other metals…trade in copper and you get steel back, if it is a legit metal trade. Something to take the attractive cash out of the situation?
chukkalady!

They look like meth-heads!!! Waterboard them and sink them in the ocean!
The Rev. Cab Calloway

You boys could use some churchin’ up.
fritz von

Sorry but in California the church people are more guilty that the copper thieves. Felony to eavesdrop w/o a warrant.

http://ny9solyndra.wordpress.com NY9Solyndra

Since when is it a felony to provide security on you own property?

Have you noticed all those video cameras (many of which have sound) in the stores you visit?

Jeff Georgia

A few wires or copper tubes electrified at about 20KV would put an end to this and the perps.
Deserttrek

maybe saudi arabia is right, these thugs would each lose a hand for this

Crosseyes

Old news… Congress gave him a pass so the MSM did too. The foxes are guarding the hen house.

LaVonte d’Ashawn Jackson IV

Occupy Carmichael. Losers.

Lee

Oh well. At least they don’t have names like “LaVonte” and “d’Ashawn”.

JByrd42

Good ole trailer trash. Take them out back and beat the meth out them.

gna

I think they look like peoples fathers who think they look like occupiers……http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1305726114g
Carlene Perry Enger

50k damage! what’s really sad is the copper probably sold for like 100$
stargirl

when did charles manson get out of prison?
Fred C. Dobbs

Why dint god stop em?

Bryan Godwin

He did.
ConservativeRedneck

:Why dint god stop em?”

Because he was laughing so hard at their stupidity and getting caught? Ever heard of FREE WILL?
Michael Warren

Apparently for the same reason he didn’t teach you how to properly spell contractions.
Sick-of-Morons

Fred, you have the mental development of a seven-year-old at best. Idiot.

NowListenUp

The Manson/Jesus looking guy is loaded to the eyeballs. Couple of blooming idiots.
big

why are both of their eyes looking towards the side of their skulls? simply meth heads looking for an easy score to get their fix. nothing political when it comes to junkies.
Buzz

Yup, tweakers. The teeth and eyes tell the story.
I feel sorry for those stuck on this type of drug…perhaps with some time in jail they will be able to get clean of that nasty stuff.

KrabApple

Yeah, because incarceration has proven really effective at getting people off drugs…

http://ny9solyndra.wordpress.com NY9Solyndra

At least the wouldn’t be stealing from honest people.
Larry Burdge

KrabApple: I can see by your comments that you can easily relate to the occupiers….and the Columbian tea partiers….
Larry Burdge

I hear that Death has a pretty good record of getting prople off of drugs, What you say Einstien KrabApple, You gotta’ solution ?