Two arrested after Niagara explosion
Posted: 10.25.2011 at 5:30 AM
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LOCKPORT, NIAGARA CO. (AP) --  A man and a woman face charges after authorities say they caused an explosion that leveled a vacant upstate New York house over the summer.

The Niagara County Sheriff's Office says Monday that the pair were stealing copper tubing in the basement of the town of Niagara home when they detached a gas pipe. The house filled with gas and exploded 16 to 18 hours later.

A business next door was heavily damaged but no one was seriously hurt.

The suspects are charged with burglary, criminal mischief and petit larceny. They're identified as 37-year-old Eric Waterstram of Niagara Falls and 28-year-old Crystal Knepp of Newfane. Both are in jail. It's not known if they've hired lawyers.

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