Deputies catch two men on roof in act of burglarizing empty supermarket building in Arabi and one man in an attic of a Chalmette duplex under renovation

Norman Clark, also booked in burglary of closed supermarket building

William Manino, booked with burglary of a duplex in Chalmette

Two men who had a rental truck waiting for them as they were on a roof burglarizing air-conditioning units of an empty supermarket building in Arabi early April 23, were caught by sheriff’s deputies, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Also, early the morning of April 22, deputies caught a man inside an attic of a Chalmette duplex residence that was under renovation on one side as he was cutting copper pipe to steal from the air-conditioning system, the sheriff said.

Sheriff Pohlmann said the arrests “show theft of copper for sale to scrap metal dealers remains a problem law enforcement agencies are still battling long after Hurricane Katrina. The storm created a cottage industry for thieves because it left so many vacant buildings dotting the landscape.”

Two men were caught about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday on the roof of the old Winn-Dixie store on West Judge Perez Drive in Arabi, where they had broken into the business, then cut a lock to get on the roof where they attempted to disassemble air-conditioning systems to steal copper and other parts, the sheriff said.

They had a rental truck outside to haul away the stolen items but they never made it back to the vehicle.

Deputies Bryan Fleetwood and Jeffery Westerfield made the arrests after finding the burglars, who were trying to hide by lying on the roof.

A man who identified himself as property manager for the building came to one deputy before they went on the roof and said he had called the Sheriff’s Office after he saw two men enter the building and come out on the roof.

There was extensive damage to equipment on the roof, the sheriff said. A bag of miscellaneous tools brought into the building by the burglars was recovered.

Booked with burglary were: John Lyerly, 51, and Norman Clark, 60, both of New Orleans. The parish Fire Department was requested to bring a truck to the scene and helped get the men down from the roof.

Lyerly and Clark, who both have previous criminal records, were put in St. Bernard Parish Prison, where both are being held in lieu of bonds set at $35,000 each.

In the other case, William Manino, 39, 3405 Evangeline Drive, Chalmette, was arrested about 3 a.m. April 22 after breaking into the unoccupied side of a double residence on Evangeline, near his own residence, the sheriff said.

Manino is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $41,400. He was booked with burglary attempted theft, criminal damage and possession of burglary tools.

The Sheriff’s Office was notified by a company managing the duplex that the occupant on one side had heard someone in the unoccupied portion next door.

Deputies James Norsworthy and Jason Spadoni went through the unoccupied side of the duplex and found no one in the living space but a ladder was lowered from the attic, the sheriff said.

Manino was seen standing in the attic, near the access ladder.

He admitted he was cutting copper pipe from the air-condition system when deputies arrived, Sheriff Pohlmann said. The suspect also said another man he knew only as John had broken into the duplex with him but had left before deputies arrived, claiming he didn’t know his last name.

Tools were found by deputies in the attic, as well as pipe Manino was cutting.