Two Far Rockaway men arrested for Inwood theft

Two men were arrested for allegedly stealing copper wire from the Haugland Energy material terminal site at 2298 Johnson Road in Inwood at 8:05 p.m. on April 30, according to police. Another alleged thief has not yet be apprehended, police said. The main company site is listed as 1 Sheridan Blvd., also in Inwood.

Police saw Timothy Robinson, 37, Andrew Strowder, 57, both from Far Rockaway, and another person in the back of the fenced in storage area on Johnson Road. Police said the trio were taking round spools of copper wire valued in excess of $3,000 and loading it into a van.

As the officers attempted to investigate, the people in the van sped away, narrowly missing the officers’ vehicle. In an effort to further evade police officers, the three drove through a chain link fence and a row of hedges near 605 Rockaway Tpke., where the van came to a stop after getting stuck in the fence.

Robinson got out of the van and fled on foot but was caught near 343 Rockaway Tpke. Robinson resisted arrest and attempted to punch an officer in the face, police said. Strowder got out of the van and was arrested without incident. No injuries were reported.

Both are being charged with grand larceny-third degree, unauthorized use of a vehicle-third degree and criminal trespass-third degree. Robinson is also being charged with criminal mischief-second degree, reckless driving, resisting arrest and being an unlicensed operator of a vehicle.