An Eatontown man was arrested in Red Bank last week on charges of copper theft and drug possession, police said.
Joseph Pfeifer, 27, of Third Street, was arrested in the midst of stealing $7,800 worth of copper wiring in front of a home on South Pearl Street at about 10:30 a.m. last Tuesday, said Chief Darren McConnell.
The wire was on spools in a truck belonging to a contractor, who called in a suspicious person, McConnell said. Patrolman Shane Dengel caught Pfeifer in the act of theft and took him into custody, McConnell said.
A subsequent search of Pfeifer  at the police station uncovered five bags of heroin, other drugs and a syringe obtained without a prescription, according to the report.
Municipal Judge William Himelman set bail at $51,000.