Charges have been laid after copper thefts in southern New Brunswick.

On January 14, the RCMP received reports about a suspicious truck on a rural road in Clarendon, and they were told there was evidence of a copper wire theft.

A short time later, two people were taken into custody at a residence, and they were found to have drugs, including methamphetamine and psilocybin.

Officers also noticed several piles of stolen, burnt metal and copper at the home.

A third person was arrested after they returned to the residence later in the day and turned themselves into police.

During a search of the property, RCMP found around 90 kilograms of copper wire, weapons, a loaded shotgun, two rifles, and several break-in instruments inside the truck.

A 37-year-old man from Clarendon, a 30-year-old woman from Fredericton and a 36-year-old Saint John man were charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5000.

The Saint John man also faces additional charges, including theft of property over $5000, possession of a non-restricted firearm without a licence, and unsafe storage of a firearm.

“Copper wire thefts are not just about metal going missing; they pose a serious risk to public safety by disrupting access to 911 and impacting other critical infrastructure,” says Sergeant Ben Comley of the Grand Bay-Westfield RCMP. “In areas like Clarendon, where cellphone service can be limited, people rely heavily on their landlines for their safety.”