Men charged in theft from Tuttle restoration project

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A restoration project is underway at the historic Tuttle house in Naugatuck. –REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN ARCHIVE

NAUGATUCK — A laborer fired last week for allegedly stealing copper from the historic Tuttle house restoration project returned to the site Saturday and made off with copper and tools worth nearly $9,000, police said.

This is the second setback for the project to restore the town-owned building, which, when complete, will be home to the Naugatuck Historical Society and the Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation. A fire damaged the roof and attic of the building in early June.

Beaulieu Co. LLC fired Peter Knappe, 46, of Waterbury, after catching him stealing copper from the worksite last week, according to the incident report. When workers discovered a storage container had been burglarized and emptied of its contents over the weekend, he was noted as a suspect.

Tuesday their suspicions were confirmed after Hartford Metal Solutions notified police that Knappe, and a friend, were attempting to scrap a large quantity of copper possibly stolen from Naugatuck. At the scrap yard, police found two plastic bins filled with copper nails (used to affix the new slate roof to the Tuttle house), copper tubes, decorative pieces and copper flashing, according to the report.

Beaulieu Co. is replacing the roof at the Tuttle house. The contractor for the restoration project is A. Seondino & Son Inc.

When the scrap yard employee told Knappe and Charles Cosmos he had called police, Cosmos tried to negotiate to sell the copper for a lesser price, the report states.

Knappe told police he invited Cosmos, of Wolcott, along for a scrap run, but that Cosmos did not steal anything.

Knappe would have received $900 for the copper he was attempting to scrap.

At the police station, Knappe admitted to breaking into a container at the Tuttle house on Church Street. He told police he tried drilling out the lock, but was unsuccessful so he cut the lock instead. He told police he stole six boxes of copper tubes, other copper items, brass threaded end caps, several power tools, drills, a circular saw and a cordless radio. He sold some of the copper at Liberty Scrap in Bristol and the power tools on the streets of Waterbury.

Police said the copper and power tools were collectively valued at $8,910.

Knappe told police he stole the items because he was behind on his bills and hasn’t been paid by his employer.

Police charged Knappe, of 268 North Harker Ave., Waterbury, with third-degree larceny, conspiracy at third-degree larceny and third-degree criminal mischief.

Cosmos, 59, of 1259 Wolcott Road, Wolcott, was charged with third-degree larceny and conspiracy at third-degree larceny. He has previous convictions for larceny and burglary, according to state records.

Both men were released on a promise to appear after their arraignment at Waterbury Superior Court on Wednesday. Knappe is scheduled to appear in court again on Aug. 23. Cosmos’ next court date is Aug. 4.