City police have arrested three men in connection with the theft of more than several thousand dollars worth of copper and brass from Federal Mogul in Smithville.Billy Joe Rigsby, 56, William Corey Dickens, 28, and 46-year-old Martin Riley, III are charged with theft of property in the case. According to authorities, the thefts occurred over an eight-month period from December 2012-August 2013.Police allege that the thieves went under a fence and entered the plant after second-shift employees left the premises and the plant closed on several occasions, entering through an unlocked door at the receiving area behind the building.They reportedly loaded carts with 50 pound bags of the almost pure-grain copper used in the manufacture of brake pads, and simply took it out the back door.On some occasions, pieces of brass were stolen as well.A video surveillance system was installed at the facility after the valuable metal was noticed to be missing, and the resulting footage apparently led city police to identify Riley and Rigsby as suspects.The copper and brass was allegedly sold to Southern Central Iron and Metal in Warren County.It is alleged that Rigsby and Dickens committed the thefts from December, 2012 until Dickens was arrested on other charges in March.Police believe Rigsby continued taking the metal until August, and was joined by Riley on at least one occasion.Dickens faces one count of theft of property over $60,000.His bond was set at $25,000.Riley is charged with one count of theft of property over $10,000.His bond was set at $10,000.Rigsby was charged with theft of property over $10,000 for the thefts committed from June-August, and for theft of property over $60,000 for thefts committed since December 2012.His bonds total $35,000.All three men will appear in court on Aug. 22.The warrant against Dickens alleges that he was caught on video on August 4 taking bags of copper from the plant.An investigation concluded that Dickens was involved from December 2012 to March of this year.The warrant said he entered the business through the back door after hours about 15 times, taking a total of approximately 150 bags of copper and selling them to Southern Central Iron and Metal.The stolen copper is valued at over $60,000.The first warrant against Rigsby alleges that he was caught on video taking multiple bags of copper from the back door of the plant on Aug. 4.Police believe that the activity had been going on from June 1-Aug. 4.An estimated 45 bags of copper valued at $18,000 were taken.The other warrant against Rigsby alleges that he was seen on video taking multiple bags of copper from the back door of the factory.An investigation concluded that the activity had been going on since December 2012.The stolen copper is valued at over $60,000.The warrant against Riley alleges that that on August 4, 2013 at Federal Mogul, he was seen on video taking multiple bags of copper from the back door of the facility on Aug. 4, and that the activity had been going on from June 1-Aug. 4.Around 45 bags of copper, valued at $18,000, were taken.The case was investigated by Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger and Lieutenant Matt Holmes.