Fast-Thinking Cop Foils Scrap Metal Theft

The Clarkstown Police Department arrested two men yesterday, saying they possessed stolen gas meter parts from Orange and Rockland Utilities.

Police had responded to Second Avenue in Nanuet at 2 p.m. June 1 for a report of two men taking scrap metal from a construction site. The officers searched the area for the white jeep that the caller had reported to the dispatcher.

An officer who heard that the vehicle had already left the scene decided to position his patrol vehicle outside of Teplitz scrap metal yard on West Nyack Road in Nanuet. The officer figured that if the men were in fact stealing scrap metal, they might come to the yard to sell their stolen property.

The officer’s hunch paid off as a vehicle matching the description drove in. A brief investigation was conducted and it was determined that the vehicle contained gas meter parts that were property of Orange and Rockland.

A supervisor from O&R responded to the scene to confirm that the property was theirs. The property was valued at more than $1,000.

Both men were arrested and transported to police headquarters for processing. Antonio Antonetti, 33, and Adolphe Fedler, 31—both of Spring Valley—were charged with criminal possession of stolen property 4th (felony). Both suspects were given appearance tickets and released. They will return to court on June 24.