What started as alleged copper theft at a north St. Louis County apartment complex ended with water damage across multiple units, police say. Michael Wright is accused of stripping plumbing from vacant apartments at Northern Village, turning a property crime into a costly flooding problem. The case adds another headache at a complex that has already faced serious scrutiny over living conditions.
According to FOX 2, apartment management reported seeing Wright enter and leave several units on July 20 while carrying large, full garbage bags. Court documents cited in the report say Wright admitted removing copper piping from vacant units. Police said the missing piping caused flooding and property damage to multiple apartments in the Northern Village area.
Burglary charges are pending
Wright faces two counts of second-degree burglary in connection with the alleged entries. Missouri law generally classifies second-degree burglary as a Class D felony when someone knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a building or inhabitable structure to commit a crime, according to the Missouri Revisor of Statutes.
Northern Village has faced earlier housing complaints
The alleged copper theft comes months after First Alert 4 reported that St. Louis County condemned 12 Northern Village units over unsafe conditions, including a lack of heat and hot water. Earlier coverage also described tenant complaints involving deteriorating conditions and other building problems, though it is unclear whether those issues were connected to the alleged theft.
Wright is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 31, according to FOX 2. The hearing will be an early step in a case that remains based on allegations, and additional court developments could clarify the extent of the claimed damage.
The incident illustrates how stealing building materials from vacant units can create consequences far beyond the value of the metal itself. In this case, police say the alleged removal of plumbing left multiple apartments dealing with flooding and property damage at a complex already struggling to keep units habitable.
