Two Carbon County men accused of stealing copper pipes from a burnt residence in Mahoning Township waived hearings last week and will have their cases heard in Carbon County Court.

John M. Ruzicka, 27, of Lower Nis Hollow Drive, Lehighton, and Robert Matthew Ruzicka, 23, of Mauch Chunk Street, Palmerton, are both charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal trespass, conspiracy to commit criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, and conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking.Both are free on 10 percent of $25,000 bail, meaning they posted $2,500 each and if the conditions of the bail are compromised, the $25,000 will be applied.The charges stem from an incident at about 3:15 p.m. on June 15 along Oak Grove Drive in Mahoning Township.Officer Corey Frey of the Mahoning Township Police Department said he was dispatched to the residence where the owner said she observed two males go to the rear of a property that had fire damage.Frey said in his affidavit that he "heard a loud noise that sounded like metal falling on the floor." He said he went to the garage area and saw the Ruzickas on the premises. "I also observed John with copper pipe in his hands," Frey wrote.Frey said John Ruzicka "stated that he thought since the house was burnt down that anyone could take whatever."The two men were placed under arrest.Back at the police station, Robert Ruzicka told Frey that he and John are "scrappers. "Robert stated that he and John found the house and thought it was abandoned so they decided to scrap," Frey says in the affidavit.The house had burned on Feb. 11, sustaining heavy damage. At the time of the fire, an 81-year-old woman had lived in it.