Published: June 10, 2009 01:52 pm      

2 Louisiana men charged with plant copper theft

LONG BEACH — Two Louisiana men are charged with grand larceny for allegedly stealing copper on multiple occasions from the closed Oreck Corp. plant in Long Beach.

Police say 38-year-old James Alvin Miller of Westwego, La., and 31-year-old Trent Michael Plaisance of Marrero, La., stole copper from the plant three times in less than a month.

Police say after their third trip, the men had gathered about $11,000 worth of copper wire. When they decided to come back again, authorities say they were being watched.

Investigators say the men pulled the copper wire out of the ground near a high-powered generator, risking their lives.

Miller and Plaisance are charged with three counts each of grand larceny, one count each of attempted grand larceny and possession of methamphetamine.