SANTA ROSA, CA — Three different burglary attempts at schools in Santa Rosa were thwarted last week, including one involving the theft of copper wire.
Six people were arrested during the police responses at Steele Lane Elementary School on Thursday, and at Comstock Middle School on Friday, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department.
Police were called to Steele Lane Elementary School, in the 300 block of Steele Lane, at about 1:47 a.m. by someone who reported seeing flashlights coming from inside. The school permanently closed in June and was recently the site of another copper wire theft.
Santa Rosa police officers entered the school and detained two men who were allegedly cutting copper wire from the building.
Kenneth Grushus, 42, and Richard Smith, 43, were arrested on allegations of felony vandalism, conspiracy, grand theft of copper material, and resisting a peace officer.
A third man, Angel Gonzalez Rodriguez, 27, was accused of running from the scene. He was detained nearby and faces similar allegations.
The next day, police responded to Comstock Middle School -- which is about a mile and half away in the 2700 block of Steele Lane and also closed earlier this year -- after the school's surveillance system alerted them to a burglary in progress just before 8 a.m.
Pedro Reyes-Medina, 22, was accused of running from the scene when police arrived. He was caught and arrested on allegations of burglary and felony vandalism.
Later that day, at about 5:13 p.m. police again responded to the campus after the surveillance system detected another break-in, allegedly showing two juveniles on campus with a crowbar.
Police found evidence that the crowbar was used to pry open a door, which was apparently unsuccessful.
The two juveniles were arrested and face allegations of attempted burglary and conspiracy.
The Police Department pointed out that all three incidents were stopped because of tips from community members and asked anyone who sees anything suspicious at the schools to provide information to the Santa Rosa Police Department at 707-528-5222 or call 911 during an emergency or crime in progress.
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