Wednesday, June 26, 2024

St. Clair Police Nab Suspect in $26,000 Scrap Metal Theft


A Port Carbon man is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison for allegedly stealing over $26,000 in scrap metal from a property in East Norwegian Township.

According to online court documents, David Capko, 36, of Port Carbon, was charged on Tuesday, June 25th, 2024 with felony theft by unlaw taking, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and defiant trespassing when posted.

The charges stem from a lengthy investigation into the stolen and damaged mining equipment from the Kuperavage Coal Company Property on Eagle Hill Road in East Norwegian Township between March 29th, 2024 and April 29th, 2024.

St. Clair Police say Capko entered the property and damaged and removed party of equipment then sold them to a local scrap metal processor.

The total damage to equipment was totaled at $26,053.

St. Clair Police Officer Vincent Bennett filed the charges Tuesday and Capko was taken into custody later in the day.

Capko was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge David Plachko on Tuesday afternoon and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 2nd, 2024 before Judge Plachko.