Two Accused of Trying to Steal $14K in Copper Wire

Two men are accused of breaking into a WE Energies substation in Greenfield and trying to make off with $14,000 in copper wire.

Thomas U. Cresci, 26, of Milwaukee, and Austin T. Webber, 21, of West Allis, were charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Friday with one count of burglary. If convicted, they each face up to 7 ½ years in prison and $25,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Dec. 24, Greenfield police officers were alerted to a substation in the 9600 block of West Cold Spring Road after an alarm went off at the facility. When they arrived, officers could hear people inside, so they formed a perimeter around the building and ordered the men out.

Cresci and Webber came out and officers found foot prints in the snow across a field to a pickup truck with tools in the back. Inside the substation there were more tools lying around and $14,000 in wire placed near a door.

Webber told officers he’s addicted to Percocet and they drove to the facility to take scrap metal.

Both men are currently being held in Milwaukee County Jail.