Elderly Salisbury woman woken by two alleged copper thieves, left without hot water

An elderly woman has been left without hot water after she caught two men armed with bolt cutters allegedly in the act of stealing her home’s copper pipes.

An elderly Salisbury woman was woken by two men allegedly stealing copper piping from her home on Tuesday night, a court has heard.

Salvatore Porrovecchio, 57, faced the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with being unlawfully on premises, possess housebreaking implement, property damage and theft.

The alleged victim noticed a pair of people moving about in her Spains Rd, Salisbury backyard at around 11.45pm, according to a South Australian police statement.

Salvatore Porrovecchio allegedly attempted to steal copper at Salisbury home. Picture: Facebook

Police arrested Porrovecchio who was allegedly caught in the act of cutting copper piping, plus a 44 year old of Salisbury Downs who jumped the rear fence.

A police prosecutor alleged a search discovered bolt cutters, an adjustable wrench socket wrench and spanner in Mr Porrovecchio’s pocket.

“The victim went outside after police attended and saw screws had been removed from her gas and hot water system, and metal sheeting had been pulled back, the systems were damaged and she was without hot water,” the police prosecutor said.

“Ultimately he was interviewed and said he had attended the residence with the co-accused as he needed money and intended to remove copper from the house for a profit.

“He told police that he and his co-accused both assumed that no persons were at the address.”

A police prosecutor told the court Mr Porrovecchio was currently on three different bail agreements.

He said the accused had a criminal history and was also facing four counts of serious criminal trespass, theft, providing false information to a second hand dealer and interfering with a motor vehicle.

“On 6 September he was convicted of driving disqualified and given a suspended sentence for 19 days imprisonment,” he said.

“He’s also been convicted of making off without payment in 2018 and possessing prescribed equipment in 2017.

“In 2014 he was convicted of manufacturing a controlled drug and possessing prescribed equipment to manufacture a controlled drug.”

Duty solicitor Omagh Ali asked for the matter to be adjourned for an application for home detention bail to be made.

“Mr Porrovecchio suffers from depression and anxiety and sees a doctor regularly for those issues,” Mr Ali said.

Magistrate Brian Nitschke refused bail.

“This man has many pending charges of a like nature dishonesty offences, he’s on a suspended sentence recently imposed, the crown case against him is extremely strong,” Mr Nitschke said.

“I fear that if he’s released on bail he might not comply with bail because it’s alleged he’s committing offences while on bail.”

A police spokesperson said copper theft was costly to the community.

“Stealing copper wiring, piping, taps and electrical cables not only costs businesses, increases building costs and insurance premiums, it can be dangerous with offenders potentially suffering electric shocks while trying to steal cabling,” they said.

Porrovecchio will reappear in January.