Arrest in freon theft case

Early on Thursday, Niagara police made an arrest in the investigation of an alleged theft of freon from an air conditioner unit at “Bartlett’s House of Antiques” in Virgil.

Freon is a gas that is ran through tubes and makes the air cold in air conditioners.

Production of freon is being phased out, but a lot of air conditioners still use it, keeping prices high and freon in demand.

53-year-old Michael Stapells, from Niagara Falls, has been charged with theft under $5,000.

CHCH showed video of the theft on Tuesday.

The owner of the business says after the story aired on CHCH, she was called by someone who said he took the freon, and offered to pay for it.