Police arrested a 48-year-old Colorado Springs man who allegedly stole copper and brass from homes under construction, including some in the Waldo Canyon fire burn area.

Charles Butcher is being held at the county jail. Bail has been set at $100,000.

At the beginning of the year, detectives from the Metal Theft Unit began investigating a series of thefts of copper pipe, copper wire and brass plumbing fixtures from homes under construction throughout the city.

Detectives determined that Butcher had been selling the stolen copper and brass to local scrap yards, police said.

Detectives began monitoring Butcher, who was seen April 12 near a construction zone in the Wolf Ranch housing development by two Stetson Hills patrol officers.

“Over a four day period, Mr. Butcher burglarized seven homes that were under construction. Two of the homes that were burglarized were located in the Mountain Shadows burn area. These homes were being rebuilt for people who lost their homes during the Waldo Canyon fire,” police said.

Detectives conducting a surveillance operation arrested Butcher on Wednesday after allegedly seeing him burglarize two more homes in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood. Police followed Butcher and pulled him over, where they took him into custody in connection with the burglaries.

“Throughout their investigation, detectives have linked Mr. Butcher to numerous burglaries that have resulted in well over $200,000 of loss to our local home builders,” police said.