Wellesley police arrest two men for allegedly stealing scrap copper from town power plant

By Lauren Dezenski, Globe Correspondent

Two Revere men are facing charges for allegedly stealing more than $5,000 in copper wire from a dumpster outside a Wellesley municipal building, Wellesley police said.

Sean Bussey, 44, and Mark Ferragamo, 43, allegedly broke into the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant’s secure yard the weekend of June 22 and took the wire.

Once the theft was reported by the plant a few days later, officers identified the two as suspects based on images collected from surveillance cameras.

Though the copper wire stored in the dumpster was old and previously used, the plant has been able to sell the wire for between $2 and $3 per pound, recouping thousands of dollars every year, police said. Thieves have been known to target scrap copper wire for its high resale value.

Officers arrested Bussey and Ferragamo on Wednesday when an officer noticed copper wire hidden beneath a vehicle they knew to belonged to the two, which was unattended and parked behind Wellesley Fire Headquarters.

Officers then saw Bussey and Ferragamo walk out of a wooded area near railroad tracks, holding more wire, which officers later determined was also taken from the plant’s dumpster.

They were then arrested by Wellesley police with over $500 of allegedly stolen copper wire in their vehicle.

The two were arraigned in Dedham District Court, pleading not guilty to charges including trespassing and larceny over $250 on June 27, police said.