LAURINBURG — Police say they have arrested two people caught in the act of stealing copper wire from a vacant house late last week.

Anthony Lamont Galbreath, 25, and Dereke Danielle Virgil, 24, both of Livingston Road, Gibson were arrested on charges related to breaking and entering on Friday evening, according to Patrol Captain Chris Young.

Police were called to the empty home on Heather Lane concerning a break in in progress and found the pair with a black Chevrolet Tahoe parked in the yard with its driver doors and hatchback door open.

“A male walked from the residence to the car with a large butcher knife in his hand and the electrical wire he had cut to the AC unit,” Young said. “They had attempted to take the AC unit.”

The pair were taken to Scotland County Detention Center and charged with attempted felony larceny, two counts of felony injury to personal property to obtain non-ferrous metals, and felony conspiracy to commit larceny.

Galbreath was given a $30,000 secured bond and Virgil received a $15,000 secured bond.

In a separate incident, the sheriff’s office answered a call of someone breaking into an office building on Old Lumberton Road in Maxton and stealing $3,000 worth of copper wire, two wire boxes valued at $400 and $500 worth of tin from the building.

By Beth Lawrence

Staff reporter

Reach Beth Lawrence 910-506-3169