Wire and Metal Thefts From City Light Poles Continue to Plague Redlands

A Yucaipa man was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of trying to steal copper wire from a city light pole, and a city spokesman said it was part a crime pattern that is confounding police, utility workers and residents.

"Thefts of metal, including copper wiring from City light posts, continue to plague the community, leaving neighborhoods in darkness and costing taxpayers in lost material and manpower," Redlands spokesman Carl Baker said.

"City officials are asking residents to be alert to copper thieves and call police immediately if they see anyone working around a City light post outside of normal business hours," Baker said.

In Redlands between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012, city crews replaced 49,273 feet of wire in street lights at more than 20 locations, at a cost of $40,243 in staff time, equipment and material, Baker said.

Since July 1, 2012, the Redlands has replaced more than 9,000 feet of wire from street lights at five locations, costing more than $6,330, Baker said.

"Last week, wire thefts darkened street lights on seven streets, including the 1500 block of Village, the 1500 block of Sheryl, the 1200 block of Sherry, the 1100 block of New York, the 1000 block of Pioneer, the 900 block of Riverview, the 1800 block of Riverbend and the 1600 block of Lugonia," Baker said Wednesday Aug. 29.

"Additional streets that suffered wire thefts in the past 30 days included the 1200 block of Fern, the 1200 block of Post, the 1200 block of Oxford, the 200 block of South Wabash, the 1700 block of East Citrus, the 1400 block of Garden and the 400 block of Judson," Baker said.

Theft of copper wire and fittings from municipal and commercial areas have gone nationwide over the past decade, Baker said.

"While the sale of stolen metal as scrap can be lucrative for thieves, the cost in material, labor and lost productivity, as well as the safety hazards are exponentially greater to the victim," Baker said.

"Salvage prices for copper are currently between $2.50 and $3.50 per pound – pennies on the dollar compared to the replacement and repair costs to the City and private business," Baker said.

A man who tried to steal copper wire from an electrical relay station May 5 in San Bernardino received electrical burns and died the next day at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, according to the coroner.

San Bernardino police estimated Michael Morga Garcia, 26, of San Bernardino, received a shock equal to 33,000 volts. The incident caused outages for an estimated 14,000 Southern California Edison customers.

Around 4 a.m. Wednesday Aug. 29, police checked on a suspicious man near the intersection of Doyle and Church streets in Redlands and determined he tried to remove the cover from a nearby light pole, Baker said. Police found tools nearby and wire in the man's vehicle across the street, Baker said.

The man, identified as Stanley Ray Tankersley Jr., 33, of Yucaipa, was arrested on a prior warrant. Police were continuing to investigate the attempted wire theft, Baker said.

Tankersley was held without bail on a charge of burglary Wednesday afternoon at Central Detention Center in San Bernardino, according to inmate records.

"Government and industry have been working on ways to discourage metal theft, including stricter requirements on both commercial recyclers and individuals, and methods to permanently identify wiring and fixtures so they can be traced to a specific site," Baker said.

Most wire thefts occur at night, when legitimate work crews would seldom be working on street lights, Baker said.

"The public is encouraged to call police or dial 911 any time they see anyone other than a readily-identifiable Southern California Edison Company or City employee removing wire or otherwise tampering with a light pole, especially at night," Baker said.

"Legitimate employees will wear uniforms with patches identifying the appropriate agency and drive vehicles with either a City or SCE logo on the doors," Baker said.

Anyone with more information was urged to contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681. Anonymous tips can be provided by texting 274637 using the keyword "REDTIP."