A Monroe County man has been charged with attempting to steal copper wire from a home.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Morgan Kaschak of the Pennsylvania State Police, Lehighton barracks, in the case against Justyn Smith:

At 8:13 a.m. April 1, Kaschak was dispatched to the 500 block of Interchange Road (Route 209) in Polk Township for a man stealing copper wire.

The caller said that he blocked the vehicle from leaving the scene.

Kaschak spoke to the suspect, later identified as Smith, 41, of East Stroudsburg, who told him that he was on his way to work and traveling south on Interchange Road when he observed copper wire to the rear of the property along Interchange Road.

Smith said he pulled into the parking lot and to the rear of the building and began to pick up the copper.

Smith’s license was determined to be suspended, and he related that he was going to sell the metal for money.

Kaschak then spoke to the victim at the scene, who said that he and a co-worker were passing the building when the co-worker saw Smith’s black GMC to the rear of the building.

The man said that he pulled into the front of the building and the GMC was parked to the rear west side so he didn’t see anyone.

The victim said that he then began walking back to his vehicle and observed a man walking from the front of the building and back to the GMC.

The victim said that he saw the copper wire and that is when Smith offered to put the copper back.

A boarded-up window was disturbed on the east side of the building. The board was screwed into the side of the building, but the screw was removed and the board was away from the building.

Smith was taken into custody, and a search of the GMC turned up a saw, a metal crowbar and a hat with a light attached to it.

Smith faces charges of burglary, theft of secondary metal, trespass by motor vehicle, criminal trespass, driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, receiving stolen property, and possessing instrument of crime with intent.

He was jailed in the Monroe County Prison after his request for bail was denied, and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Thursday before District Judge Colleen Mancuso of Brodheadsville.