Metal thieves grow bolder

BARSTOW • Metal theft is a recurring issue in the Barstow area, but lately some thieves have become more brazen.

In the past, they might have ripped the wiring out of vacant buildings or taken the caps off of fire hydrants. In recent weeks, they have increasingly targeted commercial sites, breaking into Southern California Edison substations and knocking over power poles in an attempt to steal wire.

Edison spokeswoman Nancy Jackson said that the power company has not seen an increase in theft incidents but has seen a shift in the thieves’ targets recently.

“Certainly, what we have found is that they have gotten bolder,” she said. “... For them to actually go into a facility like a substation, where it is extremely hazardous, takes an extreme degree of boldness.”

Theft incidents tend to go in cycles, she said. Typically, Edison sees three or four substation break-ins a year in the Barstow area, with the average cost to replace materials and repair damages being an average of $10,000 per incident. So far, Jackson said the number of break-ins for 2008 is on par with previous years. She did not have figures for other theft scenarios.

Barstow sheriff’s station Sgt. Robbie Ciolli said he has noticed thieves hitting more visible targets recently, like power lines along the Interstate 15 freeway.

He could not cite a reason for the thieves’ new boldness, other than the old incentive of quick cash.

“They take it to the recycling companies, and they think they’re getting easy money — which they are, right now, but we’re developing methods that will make it less easy,” he said.

Ciolli said the sheriff’s station is ramping up its metal theft investigations and expects to close in on some of the people responsible for many of the recent crimes.

“We know who a lot of the players are,” he said. “We just have to connect them with a lot of the stuff.”

Jackson also said that Edison’s corporate security department is partnering with law enforcement to develop security measures that will make the break-ins more difficult. She declined to give any specific details.

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Recent notable copper wire thefts:
• Sept. 12: A copper thief breaks into a Southern California Edison substation in Barstow to steal wire, causing power outages to 6,541 customers.
• Sept. 15: A thief breaks into an Edison substation on National Trails Highway and Daggett-Yermo Road, taking about $1,500 worth of copper wire.
• Sept. 18: While attempting to steal wire in Hinkley, thieves knock over a power pole, damaging a transformer and knocking out power to homes in the area.
• Sept. 25: Thieves pull down another power pole in Daggett to remove about 80 feet of copper wire, damaging an irrigation pump and a well.
Source: Barstow sheriff’s station daily logs

Legislation update

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a piece of anti-metal theft legislation into law Sept. 30. State Assembly Bill 844, authored by Assemblyman Tom Berryhill, R-Modesto, will require scrap yards to collect sellers’ identifying information and turn it over to law enforcement once a month. Scrap yards will be required to take thumbprints of all sellers. The new law also requires dealers to withhold payment from sellers for three days. The law takes effect immediately.