The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a recent theft of copper pipe and a furnace coil from a vacant home in the 2600 block of Capetown Village Drive in High Ridge.
Between 9 p.m. Oct. 3 and 10 a.m. Oct. 4, someone broke a window near a basement door to get inside the home and then stole the pipe and furnace coil, causing a gas leak, the Sheriff’s Office reports.
At about 10 a.m. Oct. 4, a plumber the homeowner had hired discovered the gas leak and theft and called the owner to the scene, and then the owner called the Sheriff’s Office, said Capt. Ralph Brown.
The Sheriff’s Office had the owner and plumber leave the residence and contacted the High Ridge Fire Protection District to assist. Laclede Gas also was contacted and shut off the gas, Brown said.
After the home was ventilated, deputies found a broken window near the basement door, as well as copper pipe that had been cut and removed from the basement and a missing furnace coil.
The Sheriff’s Office didn’t have an estimate for the stolen items and damage.
Deputies found three trash bags on the rear deck, with the furnace coil inside one of them. Burglary tools were found in another one, and they were seized as evidence.
As of Thursday (Oct. 16), there were no suspects or arrests, Brown said.
He asks anyone with information about the burglary to call the Sheriff’s Office tip line at 636-797-5515.