FREMONT, CA — Four Fremont residents accused of ripping out utility wires in the city, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and leaving thousands of people without internet, have been arrested and charged with grand theft, police said.
Police say the four suspects first cut down fiber-optic and coaxial cables in the 2100 block of Peralta Boulevard on May 9, causing $50,000 in damage.
By cutting the cables, they left about 10,000 Fremont residents without internet, phone, television and home security services, the Fremont Police Department said.
A few days later, the suspects returned to the same area and stole an additional $5,000 worth of cables, police said.
They were arrested on May 20 after detectives witnessed them trying to steal utility wire in other parts of the city, police said.
The suspects, who police identified as David Elmore, Nicole Elmore, Eric Kosskela and Marc Rice, were taken into custody in connection with the thefts.
They have since been charged with damaging or tampering with telephone or electrical lines, vandalism and grand theft, police said.
Prosecutors also added an enhancement to the charges based on the damages the suspects are accused of causing, which is estimated to have exceeded $200,000, according to authorities.
A photo posted by police on social media appears to show the tools the suspects are accused of using to steal the cables.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Fremont, CA Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.