When a utility crew informed residents near Rodney and Wakefield avenues in the Central Park neighborhood - an area not previously affected by a loss of electricity - that they would temporarily lose power Saturday while other lines were re-energized, residents were incensed and took to the street. Police were called to defuse the situation, which never went beyond verbal attacks.

A mobile GPS unit was stolen from an out-of-town power company truck Wednesday morning at Bailey and East Delavan avenues.

The National Guard, making food deliveries Tuesday, came under fire from youths pelting them with snowballs at Hertel Avenue and Laforce Place and other debris on Maple Street.

Three men were arrested Sunday evening attempting to steal a National Grid transformer, valued at more than $3,000, on Princeton Place in South Buffalo.

Downed electrical wire was stolen on Princeton Place, apparently one of just several communities where thieves cut down and removed fallen lines to sell the copper and aluminum as scrap metal.

"When we came here, we looked for the electrical lines on this street, and they were all cut from the poles," a worker for State Electric Corp. of Boston, Mass., said of the Princeton Place neighborhood.

"Power could have been restored two days ago" if the wire wasn't stolen on Princeton Place, he said.

Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson issued a "Zero Tolerance" order Tuesday stating that "looting [or] harassment of cleanup crews, the National Guard, [or other agencies]," are to receive priority by patrols.

In addition, Chief of Detectives Dennis J. Richards issued a warning to scavengers, saying anyone caught stealing wires from downed utilities would be charged with larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.

"Unfortunately, there's a national trend on copper thefts because of the high price of the salvaged metal," Richards said. "There are opportunists who prey on vacant properties, stripping them of cooper, but obviously this is from the storm."

Princeton Place residents were angry at the thieves Wednesday after learning their actions delayed restoration of their power.

"When I came back Monday to check on my house, they [thieves] had cut my telephone and cable lines," Princeton Place resident Mark Clayback said. "I think it is disgusting."

At area scrap metal yards, workers said they have noticed an increase in people showing up with copper cable.

"We've been turning them down for a few days now," said John Conte, who co-owns Hurwitz Metals at New Babcock and William streets.

Because of increased demand in the marketplace for copper, Conte said, the price of copper has steadily increased. Salvagers have been receiving more than $2.50 a pound for copper.

LOU MICHEL and T.J. PIGNATARO

lmichel@buffnews

tpignataro@buffnews