DNA evidence leads to charges in Buck Hill Inn copper theft

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From left: Barry R. McFarland, Timothy Shay, Vincent Janssen, Thomas Helman, Christopher Smith.Photo provided

March 26, 2014

Five men have been charged with stealing copper pipe from the abandoned Buck Hill Inn in 2012.

Using DNA obtained from evidence at the scene, police caught up with the criminals nearly two years after the fact.

Barry R. McFarland, 21, of Scranton, Vincent Janssen, 27, of Tobyhanna, Thomas Helman, 25, Timothy Shay, 20, and Christopher Smith, 22, all of Gouldsboro, are all facing burglary and related charges.

Police charge that in April 2012 the group stole more than $1,000 worth of copper from the inn. But they also left behind evidence that allowed police to positively identify them earlier this year.

Police have arrested three of the men, but Janssen and Shay are still at large.

It's at least the second time this year police have made arrests for copper theft at Buck Hill Inn last month, two Monroe County men were charged with stealing copper from the inn in 2013.

According to court documents:

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DNA evidence leads to charges in Buck Hill Inn copper theft