A preliminary hearing for a Carbon County couple accused of theft has been continued.

Herman McFarland, 45, and Kelly Neff, 43, of 70 Anthony Lane, Palmerton, were scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on Wednesday before District Judge Bruce Appleton of Palmerton on charges of theft by unlawful taking or disposition.No new date has yet to be established for their next court appearance.According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Garth Holloway:On Sept. 12, 2011, at about 1:15 a.m., Neff and her boyfriend McFarland arrived at 180 Pine Street (Pencor), Lower Towamensing Township, according to the affidavit.Upon arrival at the scene, Neff and McFarland removed copper wire from a storage dumpster and placed the wire in the back seat of a 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra, the affidavit says.The Pencor property is monitored by video surveillance. A Pencor employee observed the defendants arrive at the location and remove the wire from the dumpster. The employee then contacted PSP Lehighton and provided a vehicle description. Holloway advised the station to contact the Palmerton Police Department for assistance, since at the time of the call, he was in Monroe County.On Sept. 12, at about 1:23 a.m., officer Rupell arrived on scene and initiated a traffic stop on the defendants' vehicle as they were attempting to leave the scene. Neff was operating the vehicle. Upon contact with Neff, she admitted to stealing the wire. Rupell observed wire in the back seat of Neff's vehicle.On Sept. 12 at about 1:38 a.m., Holloway arrived on scene and observed Neff and McFarland in the Oldsmobile. Holloway also observed coils of wire in the back seat of the vehicle. Neff advised that she stole the wire, which was valued at $200. Neff and McFarland were arrested and transported to PSP Lehighton.On Sept. 12, at about 2:30 a.m., Neff was interviewed at PSP Lehighton. At that time, she admitted to stealing the wire. Neff provided a written statement. A copy of the video was placed into evidence.