A homeless man was arrested for allegedly taking advantage of the kindness of strangers, according to the Delaware County Times.
The Times reports that maintenance men at The Gardens Apartments on Alderbrook Avenue in Upper Darby offered Michael Rainey, 27, a place to sleep.
Rainey, who is homeless, was allowed to sleep in the basement of the complex. Police say he was wide awake however, when he stole copper pipes from the unit before leaving the next morning.
On Oct. 7, Rainey allegedly sold the stolen copper for scrap at the Accurate Recycling Center on Baltimore Avenue. The maintenance workers discovered the theft and confronted Rainey at the metals recycling center -- a fight that got the attention of Upper Darby Police.
"When the officer arrives he meets two guys who confront this Rainey character and the two guys say that they followed him down here because they had given him a place to sleep because he was homeless and they felt sorry for him," said Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.
The two maintenance workers saw Rainey rooting through some trash outside The Gardens a few days earlier and wanted to help him out.
"They give him a place to sleep -- trying to be Good Samaritans -- he steals the copper tubing out of the apartment he's in to sell I guess to support his drug habit," said Chitwood.
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It turns out that Rainey had seven previous arrests on drug and theft charges.
"Obviously he's a bum, obviously he's a thief," said Chitwood. "I think that getting in there he saw the opportunity and he took the opportunity."
Rainey is charged with theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.
He was jailed in lieu of posting 10 percent of $20,000 bail pending a preliminary hearing.
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