GIFFORD — A Gifford man was arrested, accused of stealing the aluminum window frames and some aluminum siding from three vacant homes in the area and selling the aluminum for scrap, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect, identified as Jeffrey Broughton, 23, of 3976 47th Place, faces felony charges of burglary, grand theft and dealing in stolen property. He is being held at the county jail without bond.
During an interview with investigators, Broughton admitted to stealing the window frames and siding, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“I didn’t think anybody would mind,” Broughton told investigators, the arrest report states.
The victim told the Sheriff’s Office that he owns three homes along the 2400 block of 41st Street, all of which have been vacant for some time.
He told investigators that he noticed three large windows and their aluminum frames, along with a large section of aluminum siding missing from one home earlier in the week. On Tuesday, he returned to the homes and discovered another five windows and frames missing.
The total damage is estimated at $10,000, according to the arrest report.
Investigators tracked the stolen aluminum to Mr. Scrap, where a scrap receipt identified Broughton as the one who sold the aluminum frames and siding, the arrest report states.
The Sheriff’s Office did not release how much money Broughton received from Mr. Scrap for the aluminum.
