HANOVER TOWNSHIP, PA — A 69-year-old Luzerne County man is facing multiple criminal charges after police allegedly caught him using a sled to haul away stolen utility lines earlier this week. Hanover Township Police arrested Robert Drust on Monday morning following a report of a suspicious person in a wooded area behind Bentley’s Night Club.
According to the criminal complaint, officers arrived at the scene near State Route 309 around 11:30 a.m. to find Drust pulling a sled loaded with several lengths of cut Verizon copper wiring. Investigators believe Drust was trespassing on the property and using a hacksaw, which was later discovered in his backpack, to remove the telecommunications infrastructure. The theft of copper wiring has become an increasing concern for local utilities due to the potential for service disruptions and the high cost of repairs.
Drust has been charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, possessing instruments of crime, and defiant trespassing. He was arraigned before District Magistrate Joseph Halesey and released on $10,000 unsecured bail. He is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.