TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Freon Leak Foils Bid To Steal Copper

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 27, 2007

TAMPA - Police arrested two men trying to steal copper tubing from an air conditioner after an escaping cloud of Freon from the broken appliance startled one of the men so badly he summoned an officer for help, authorities said.

Police charged Brandon Gormley, 20, of Tampa with felony burglary about 90 minutes after he alerted an officer at Sulphur Springs Pool about the gas escaping from an air conditioner at the Harbor Club, 915 E. Grant Ave., a police report states.

Also arrested was James Warren Holbrooks Jr., also 20, of Tampa. Both men also are charged with felony grand theft. They were held at Orient Road Jail on Monday.

About 6 p.m. Thursday, Gormley, Holbrooks and an unidentified man in his 50s met at the club to steal copper tubing from its air-conditioning units, police said.

Gormley broke the hasp and lock on a fence surrounding the units, then acted as lookout for the others, police said.

The Freon escaped after the others broke the tubing attached to the units, police said. Gormley "fled the scene in fear," the report states, and ran about two blocks to the community pool at 713 E. Bird St., where he alerted a police officer about the gas.

When the officer responded to the club with Gormley, the other men were gone. Police determined Gormley and Holbrooks were involved. They did not find the other man.

A staff report

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT