A months-long investigation into copper wire thefts from across Ventura County led to multiple arrests, including a North Hills man this month.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office said its investigation began in March, and deputies eventually nabbed the 43-year-old man Aug. 5 after searching his home.
The copper lines have been stolen from communication systems in Camarillo, Ojai, Fillmore and Moorpark, according to a news release and detectives. In addition to the losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars of copper, the thefts also damaged critical infrastructure, sheriff's officials said.
The thieves target wires on telephone poles in remote areas, and investigators noticed a pattern among certain thefts, starting in the spring, said Detective
Dustin Heersche.
The case broke open in June when four alleged thieves were caught in Moorpark as they attempted to remove copper lines, Heersche said. The four have since been charged but subsequently released while the investigation continues, he said.
The Moorpark arrests – combined with video footage, evidence analysis and vehicle tracing – led them to the North Hills man.
In August, investigators arrested the 43-year-old after a search of a home in the 8000 block of Columbus Avenue in North Hills. Deputies said they also collected and seized evidence linking him to copper wire thefts.
He was booked into Ventura County jail on suspicion of felonies for grand theft of copper, cutting a utility line and misdemeanor hit-and run driving, according to jail records. He is being held on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court Aug. 11, jail records show.
The public is advised to call police if they see suspicious activity and in particular on lines up on telephone poles.
Stacie N. Galang is news director of the Ventura County Star. She can be reached at 805-437-0222 or stacie.galang@vcstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Probe of copper wire thefts across Ventura County lead to arrests
