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Crime & Safety

Police Arrest Man with Homemade "Zip Gun" at Waterfront

Albany Police officers arrested two men early Thursday after finding them digging for metal at the waterfront.

Authorities say the potential for metal recycling at the may be drawing scavengers from outside the city to collect materials that can be turned into cash. 

Just after midnight Thursday, Albany police were on a routine patrol near the waterfront when they heard what sounded like a jackhammer and saws, said Sgt. Chris Willis of the .

He and three other officers went into the area to investigate. 

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They found two groups of men, some wearing headlamps, cutting into part of the "neck" area of the waterfront to dig for metal. They were using generators and large power tools to aid in their efforts, said Willis.

Of the five men police spoke with, just one was from Albany. None were residents of the Bulb.

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"These are out-of-towners who come in at night with tools and trucks to steal metal," said officer Chris Beck. 

Police ultimately arrested two men: Vincent Michael Lopriore, 36, of Albany, in connection with a misdemeanor warrant; and Mark Adam Butterworth, 44, of Hayward. 

Butterworth was arrested on suspicion of probation violation, possessing methamphetamine and a drug pipe, possession of another person's belongings and possession of a homemade "zip gun."

According to the Alameda County sheriff's department, Butterworth remains in custody with a bail of $32,500 at Santa Rita Jail. He is scheduled for arraignment on March 26.

Lopriore does not appear to be in custody.

If there's something in this article you think  , or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at albany@patch.com.

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