Newtown Police, working with State Police and the town's highway department, say they caught two men in the act of stealing metal and pipes from Cochran House, a building on the Fairfield Hills property, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Police were called to Fairfield Hills at about 1:35 a.m. to investigate a report of lights and noises coming from the third floor of Cochran House. When they entered and searched the building, they found two men on the third floor, according to reports, apparently in the act of stealing pipes and metal from the building using a set of burglar's tools.
With help from state troopers, Newtown police scoured Cochran House "in a thorough search from rooftop to basement," according to reports, but found no other suspects. Meanwhile, Newtown highway personnel helped secure the building to prevent further access.
Police charged the the men -- Paul Longe, 28 of New Haven, and Dale Hanley, 28, of Northford -- with a litany of charges, including third-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief, sixth-degree larceny and posession of burglars' tools. They were released on $2500 bond and will appear at Danbury Superior Court on November 12.
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