CRIME 3 arraigned in Airgas break-ins

Bond was set at $30,000 for each man in municipal court.
YOUNGSTOWN -- After a series of break-ins at Airgas on Lilac Street, two detectives set up an after-hours stakeout and caught three suspects.
Charged with breaking and entering and arraigned Thursday in municipal court were:
URonald G. Madden, 28, of Ohio Avenue.
UDaniel Badger, 25, of Early Road.
UFred Smith, 45, of Western Reserve Road, Poland.
Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly set bond for each at $30,000. They will be back in court June 2 for a preliminary hearing.
In the past few weeks, holes have been cut in the fence on the North Side business property to gain entry. Thousands of dollars worth of acetylene and oxygen gas tanks have been stolen, reports show.
Airgas distributes industrial, medical and specialty gases, according to its Web site.
The most recent theft was discovered Wednesday morning. Once again, a hole was cut in the fence. Two acetylene tanks worth $200 each and two oxygen tanks worth $200 each were taken, police said.
Stakeout
After the business closed Wednesday, Detective Sgts. Rick Spotleson and Jose Morales staked out the place. Spotleson hid inside the business and Morales stayed outside, near the edge of the property, police said.
At 9:40 p.m., Spotleson saw a maroon panel van drive up and park in the 1300 block of Lilac. Airgas is at 1305 Lilac.
Spotleson said he saw two men enter the fenced-in area and head toward the loading dock. He notified Morales and the radio operator, who sent backup officers.
The two suspects -- later identified as Badger and Madden -- picked up acetylene tanks from the dock and carried them to the fence, reports show. They didn't know it at the time but they were about 10 feet away from Spotleson.
The detective said he saw the men slide the tanks under the fence to the third suspect, later identified as Smith.
By then the backup officers were in place and arrested the three men.