Sheriff’s office investigates defunct foundry break-ins.

– OCP file photo

Sheriff’s office investigates defunct foundry break-ins.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

ROTHBURY — The Oceana County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a series of break-ins at the former Barber Steel Foundry building on Winston Road.

“Somebody has been breaking in there and stealing a lot of fixtures,” said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast. Copper wire has been stolen over the last couple weeks. 

Intruders cut a hole in the fence to gain access to the property and then gained access to the building through an overhead door. They may have used a chisel to break in, said Sheriff Mast.

“The damage done to the structure by stripping large strands of electric cable was quite dramatic,” he said.

The break-ins were reported to police Wednesday, Sept. 29. “It’s been going on for some time.” 

Barber Steel, which operated in the former Kurdziel Iron Industries building, closed permanently two years ago. It was a division of Wabtec, which supplies critical components, locomotives, services, signaling and logistics systems and services to the global rail industry.

Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to contact the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office at 231-873-2121.

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