ABBEVILLE – Two Erath residents allegedly stripping a home of its copper wire while the resident was away have been booked into the parish jail.

According to Sheriff Mike Couvillon, a neighbor noticed an unfamiliar vehicle parked in a carport on Boyance Road in Erath.

The resident and the caretaker then parked in the path of the suspicious vehicle and contacted the Sheriff’s Office.

Responding deputies discovered Stuart Menard, 32, and Jessica Rodefer, 29, with a ball of about 250 feet of copper wire, as well as finding numerous places where the wiring had been pulled from the home’s walls.

Copper wire currently has a salvage value of $3 a pound. Wire scrap is bringing $2.87.

They were charged with simple burglary and simple criminal damage.

Menard also had charges lodged of three counts of contempt of court, indecent behavior with a juvenile and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.