Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Stealing Copper Pipes From Norfolk Warehouse

NORFOLK, Va. – A judge sentenced 51-year-old Leroy David Rouse to two years in prison for statutory burglary and petit larceny after he was caught last year stealing copper pipes from a business.

On June 17, around 1:30 a.m., Norfolk Police officers responded to an alarm call at the Hajoca warehouse on East Virginia Beach Boulevard and found Mr. Rouse inside the fenced-in lot near an open bay door in the process of stealing copper pipes. After a brief foot pursuit, officers detained Mr. Rouse. The key holder of the business arrived, confirmed to officers that the pipes laying outside had previously been stored inside and that the bay doors were secured, and told officers that the business was experiencing an ongoing issue with copper piping being stolen. Video surveillance footage confirmed Mr. Rouse to have crawled beneath the bay door and removed the pipes.

Mr. Rouse pleaded guilty on Oct. 18 to statutory burglary and petit larceny, and Judge Robert B. Rigney deferred his finding of guilt pending Mr. Rouse’s sentencing hearing. On Dec. 8, Judge Rigney accepted Mr. Rouse’s guilty plea, and after Mr. Rouse was found to be ineligible for incarceration alternatives, Judge Rigney sentenced Mr. Rouse on Friday to two years in prison and six months of post-release supervision. This was Mr. Rouse’s second conviction for burglary.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Anthony J. Comento prosecuted Mr. Rouse’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective John A. Schraft Jr. led the investigation.

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