A rural Steuben County woman called the sheriff's department Thursday night because she found items on and around her property that are commonly used to make meth.Three Kosciusko County men are accused of stealing copper from irrigation systems in Marshall and Kosciusko counties.
The Kosciusko sheriff’s department said Etna Green residents Jeffery L. Mettler Jr., 30, Nathaniel McConnell, 19, and Jason W. Mullins, 28, had been taking the copper to local metal scrap yards and dividing up the illicit profit.
The loss to area farmers has been estimated in the range of $50,000 to $60,000, the sheriff’s department said in a statement.
Similar copper thefts were reported in the spring, the statement said.
Police said those with information about this case can call the Kosciusko County TIP line anonymously at 574-372-2494, 24 hours a day.
