MERRIMACK – Merrimack police have charged a man with stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of metal from two hydraulics companies.

Derrick Cotnoir, 29, of 82 Karatzes Ave., Manchester, turned himself in on an arrest warrant Thursday morning and was charged with felony theft and burglary, police said.

Police were called to TST Hydraulics at 20 Continental Boulevard around 8 a.m. Oct. 21 for a reported burglary. There, officers and the business owners viewed surveillance footage from newly installed cameras and spotted Cotnoir, a former employee, police said.

Through the investigation, police also linked Cotnoir to thefts at New Hampshire Hydraulics, also in Merrimack, where he has worked for a little more than a year, police said.

Nearly $4,000 worth of bronze and brass were stolen from that business Aug. 3, police said.

Cotnoir is accused of taking a small amount of cash from TST Hydraulics, according to Merrimack police Lt. Paul Trepaney.

Cotnoir was arraigned at 9th Circuit Court – District Division – Merrimack on Thursday and held at Manchester’s Valley Street jail on $1,000 cash bail. He is due back in court Nov. 15 for a probable cause hearing, police said.

The Class A felony theft charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison plus fines. The Class B felony burglary charge is punishable by up to seven years in prison plus fines, police said.

– JOSEPH G. COTE