Two Arrested For Stealing Copper Downspouts, Police Say

Evanston police arrested two men for stealing copper down spouts on March 1, according to a press release. 

Ryan T. Hanley, 30, 10524 S. Spaulding Ave., Chicago and Richard W. Latoria, 27, 340 Medill Ave., Northlake, were charged with three counts of felony theft each, police said. Hanley is currently on parole for theft, according to police. 

Evanston police saw Hanley and Latoria acting suspiciously in the 900 block of Chicago Ave. around 2 p.m. on March 1. The men told police they were scrappers and upon further police surveillance, police found two large plastic bags filled with cut up copper down spouts, police said. 

The investigation also led police to the 200 block of Main St., the 500 block of Lee St., and the 900 block of Forest Ave., where copper down spouts were removed from the buildings with the use of metal snips. 

The men took public transportation to Evanston to commit the thefts, according to one subject’s statement to police. 

Following the men’s arrest, police are looking to solve previously reported copper down spout thefts from two area churches. 

Hanley and Latoria are due to appear in Skokie court on March 21.