BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — Copper wire thefts are becoming more common in Kern County, particularly in rural areas where thieves can quickly steal and resell the valuable metal, authorities and a former police chief say.
Authorities say stolen copper is often quickly sold or repurposed.
“It is a precious metal, copper, and they can exchange it readily and very easily,” said Dr. Tommy Tunson, the former Arvin police chief. He said that value makes copper a prime target for thieves and that it is “easy to target and easy to steal.”
On April 1, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant as part of a copper wire theft investigation. Deputies said they found about 200 pounds of stolen commercial-grade copper wire, along with burglary tools, leading to the arrest of four people…