
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 24, 1993                   TAG: 9311240179
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MEN ARRESTED IN CONSTRUCTION MACHINE THEFTS

Two men have been charged with illegally obtaining construction equipment from several Salem and Vinton businesses by acting as phony purchasing agents for legitimate construction companies.

Corey Darrell Smith, 24, of Roanoke and Johnny Lee Casey, 25, of Salem each face five counts of obtaining property under false pretenses.

Salem Police Sgt. David Rhodenizer said men would call companies that sell construction equipment and place orders using phony purchase order and job numbers.

The caller would give the name of a legitimate construction company as the buyer.

The "purchases" included such items as air compressors and power saws.

Each purchase was worth between $650 and $1,000, Rhodenizer said.

Police arrested the men after one company became suspicious and called 911.

Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by CNB