Reward offered for suspected copper thief
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The White County Sheriff's Office/White County Crimestoppers program is offering a $500 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of George D. Winerberger, also known as Dusty Winerberger, 22, of the Maunie/Dogtown area.
Sheriff Doug Maier said evidence has been developed through a lengthy investigation that has linked Winerberger to a series of theft cases involving copper wire being taken from rural farm irrigation systems.
There is currently an active arrest warrant alleging the offense of escape that was issued by White County. Sheriff's Sgt. Byrd Huber said that offense originated from an unrelated case. Winerberger is also wanted on Posey County, Ind., warrants, also unrelated to the theft investigation in White County.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Winerberger is asked to call the sheriff's office at 382-5321 or the White County Crimestoppers at 1-800-637-3577 or one may visit their website at http://crime.whitecounty-il.gov/. Tipsters do not have to give their name.
Winerberger is described as a white male, 22 years old, 5 feet, 9 inches tall and about 150 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes.