Two people have been arrested in connection with the theft of copper from the former West Ironton Elementary School at 1227 N. Third St. over the weekend.

Brian Ferguson, 25, of 214 Pearl Street in Ironton, and Jeremy Riffe, 32, of Greenup, Ky., are each charged with breaking and entering.

According to the Ironton police log, owner Ed Rambacher reported Sunday morning that someone had broken into his building Saturday night and that copper pipes had been taken in the incident.

Ironton Police Chief Jim Carey said Sgt. Anthony Forrest and Patrolman Jamie Pruitt arrested Riffe and Ferguson Sunday. The copper has been recovered.

Rambacher purchased the former kindergarten building from the Ironton City Schools last year after the new consolidated elementary was completed.