Green Island man accused of stealing copper products

PHOTOGRAPHER: Marcy Velte

A Green Island man was caught early Sunday morning stealing copper from a business in the Port of Albany with his 11-month-old daughter still in the car, police said today.

Michael Lemperle, 25, of 17 High St., was caught inside the fenced-in lot of Capitol Bag and Waste around 1 a.m., after an officer on patrol saw him leaving the facility. Lemperle was found in possession of three copper-nickel radiators and five rolled lengths of solid copper wire, police said.

Officer Joseph DeMarco later discovered Lemperle’s daughter, who had been left alone in his unlocked car while her father was inside the lot stealing the copper, police said.

Lemperle was taken into custody and arraigned in Albany City Criminal Court Sunday morning. He was charged with petit larceny, criminal trespass 3rd and endangering the welfare of a child. His daughter was turned over to her mother and Child Protection Services was notified.