Mandeville-Area Man Arrested After Copper Stolen from Local Business

ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. — A man experiencing homelessness was arrested after authorities say he burglarized several storage buildings at a business near Mandeville, stealing hundreds of copper plates and feet of copper wire.

According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office (STPSO), deputies with the Criminal Patrol Division responded to a burglary complaint on October 27 at a business in the 21000 block of Marion Lane.

Investigators determined that someone had entered multiple storage buildings and stolen approximately 240 copper plates and more than 240 feet of copper wire. Authorities say the stolen materials were subsequently sold to a scrapyard in Tangipahoa Parish for approximately $2,000.

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Working alongside detectives with the STPSO Property Crimes Division, deputies identified the suspect as Mark Geri, a local man described by authorities as homeless.

An arrest warrant was obtained on October 30, and deputies located Geri that same day in a parking lot in the Mandeville area.

According to STPSO, Geri was found in possession of several pieces of the stolen property when he was taken into custody.

He was transported to the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center and booked on three counts of simple burglary.

The Sheriff’s Office did not indicate whether additional arrests or charges are expected.

Geri is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Source: St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office

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