COSTA MESA, CA — During a foot patrol at approximately 11:30 p.m. on a night in July, law enforcement officers conducted a security check at a sports complex. The patrol was initiated specifically to address recent reports of copper wire theft in the area.
During the check, officers located a smashed underground concrete utility box in the field. Several feet of copper wire had been pulled out and cut from the infrastructure. Near the utility box, officers recovered physical evidence, including a hammer, wire cutters, and a pry bar…