Admitted copper thief goes for the TV close-up

SWAMPSCOTT – “Captured on camera” once again, a Lynn man brought a news crew with him when he surrendered to police as one of the men surveillance cameras had recorded stealing copper downspouts from Town Hall.”It was later learned that (the suspect) had called Channel 5 himself to admit his wrongdoings in Swampscott,” Swampscott Police Sgt. Tim Cassidy wrote in an e-mail. “(The suspect) gave Channel 5 an interview and then came into the station where he was immediately identified by Det. Ted Delano as being one of the parties” caught on surveillance video.Stephen Marshall, 35, of 51 Coburn St., Lynn, was arrested and charged with larceny over $250, six counts; and malicious destruction of property, six counts; for six thefts reported in Swampscott during the past week.The thefts remain under investigation, however, as a second individual in the surveillance footage is still at large.Police first received a report of a stolen copper downspout on Jan. 9, and one or more thieves have since targeted at least four other locations in town: two thefts were reported at The Holy Name Church on Monument Avenue; a single theft was reported at Swampscott Town Hall, 143 Burrill St., 23 Littles Point Road and 23 Paradise Road. Meanwhile, copper thefts have also been reported in Marblehead, Lynn, Saugus and Salem, according to local police.Security footage from Town Hall that showed two men taking a downspout was disseminated to local media on Tuesday. Beverly detectives and other individuals led police to suspect Marshall, who has a small gold Ford pickup with a cap on it. (A pickup truck with a cap was also reported around the Holy Name Church at the time of one of the alleged incidents.)Delano contacted Marshall and arranged for him to come to the station Thursday. At 12:30 p.m. that day, a Swampscott officer noticed a Channel 5 News truck in the police station parking lot. The news crew explained they had received a tip the copper thief was turning himself in. Marshall gave an interview to the TV news and then went into the station where he was arrested without incident, according to police.Cassidy said Marshall was held on $540 cash bail and was scheduled to appear in Lynn District Court today.Detectives are asking anybody with information on the second suspect to contact Swampscott Police at 781-595-1111.