Patterson Man Accused in Cell Tower Copper Thefts

A Patterson man has been arrested in connection with three separate thefts of copper fixtures from cellular communications towers in Patterson and Kent.

Brian Windover, 38, of 1087 Route 311 in Patterson, is accused of breaking into the tower site shelters and stealing several copper grounding bars from inside the facilities. He allegedly committed the break-ins at a cell tower located along Concord Road in Patterson on July 23, at another tower along Route 301 in Kent on July 27, and at a third tower along Ludingtonville Road in Patterson on Aug. 14.

Upon investigating the July 27th theft, Sheriff’s Office investigators obtained images of the suspect’s vehicle from a security camera video recording.

On Aug. 14, Sheriff’s Investigator Randall Hill was driving an unmarked patrol car along Ludingtonville Road when he observed a car matching the suspect’s vehicle enter the cell tower property there. Hill checked more closely and caught the defendant in the act of unlawfully entering that facility.

Upon further casework by Investigator John Alfano, the defendant was connected to the two earlier thefts and was arrested for all three.

Windover has been charged with burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, and possession of burglar’s tools. He was arraigned in the Town of Kent Justice Court Aug. 15, where Justice J. Peter Collins remanded him to the county jail and set bail at $5,000.00 cash or $10,000.00 bail bond on the Kent charge and additional bail in the same amounts for the Patterson charges. The defendant remains held in the jail as of the time of this News Release.

Investigations are ongoing into other similar thefts of copper fixtures from cellular towers in the area. Owners and operators of cellular tower facilities who have experienced such thefts in recent months are encouraged to report the incidents to police authorities.