RED HOUSE, W.Va. — A security system at a remote home in Putnam County is credited with helping thwart two burglars during a Thursday morning break in.
Deputies were dispatched to the home on Bowles Ridge Road near the Jackson County border around 8:30 a.m. The homeowner, who was in Charleston, had been alerted by the alarm.
“He was able to view his cameras from his location in Charleston,” said Putnam County Chief Deputy Eric Hayzlett. “He could see two men carrying items from his garage.”
Deputies responded, but the men were gone by the time they arrived.
“He does some heating and air work and had some scrap copper in there and he felt like they were stealing that,” said Hayzlett. “Our guys started searching the area.”
Hayzlett said deputies also contacted Nitro Cash-in Recyclables with the men’s description and asked them to call deputies if they pair showed up. Within moments, the recycling facility called and said the men were there to sell copper. Deputies quickly arrived and arrested John William Herford IX, and Clinton Thomas Owsley. Both men are from Red House.
They are each charged with entering without breaking. Additionally Owsley is charged with petit larceny and is wanted for an outstanding warrant in Kanawha County.