BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — The Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crime Investigations Unit has dismantled an illegal copper wire theft operation, leading to the arrest of three suspects. Over recent weeks, detectives have been probing a series of copper wire thefts across the county, which resulted in significant property damage and costly repairs.
The investigation revealed that the stolen copper wire was stripped of its insulation and recycled for profit. California law mandates recycling centers to document the seller’s information and report transactions to local authorities.
Detectives uncovered evidence of an illegal recycling center operating from a residence on the 3000 block of Belle Terrace. A search warrant executed on June 25, 2025, led to the discovery of approximately 6,000 pounds of large-gauge, commercial copper wire…