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Copper Thief Swipes Pipes From Harlem Armory Multiple Times, Cops Say

By  Trevor Kapp and Aidan Gardiner | August 8, 2013 8:51am 

 The man robbed the National Guard Armory in Harlem at least five times, cops said.
The man robbed the National Guard Armory in Harlem at least five times, cops said.
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NYPD & DNAinfo/Trevor Kapp

NEW YORK CITY — A nimble metal thief scaled the scaffolding outside the National Guard Armory in Harlem and stole copper piping and weatherproofing from the building at least five times since April, cops and a military spokesman said.

The suspect first climbed the historic armory, at 2366 Fifth Ave., on April 4th, according to the NYPD.

He hit the building — the home of the storied 369th Regiment, also known as the "Harlem Hellfighters" — again two weeks later before taking a break for about two months and returning June 14th, police said.

Then twice more on July 10th and 13th he again burglarized the armory which is used primarily by the National Guard for training and recruitment, according to Eric Durr, spokesman for the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs.  

It was not clear how much copper was taken.

Extensive renovations were planned for the Art Deco structure, which was built in 1933.

New plumbing, heating, electrical and communications systems to "accommodate the needs of today's military" are being installed the 216,000 square foot facility.

Work was slated to begin in October.