Attempt to Steal Copper Wire from PG&E Goes Bad; Two of Three Suspects Arrested

Two men were arrested early morning for attempting to steal copper wire from a PG&E yard on Industrial Road, police said. A third suspect has not yet been located.

The two men who were arrested – Douglas Penn, 49, of Richmond and Aejandro Rojas, 37, of Concord – were arrested on charges of grand theft, conspiracy and resisting arrest, police said.

Penn was on probation for prior narcotics violations and was also charged with probation violation

Early Monday morning, a PG&E employee saw two men and a third unidentified suspect in the PG&E yard.

Previous incidents of copper wire theft have plagued this location, so the employee called police just before 3 am.

“Three suspects fled on foot, running through the vacant lot just south of the PG&E yard,” said Sergeant Vincent Bedolla. “Two of the suspects were apprehended after a short foot pursuit.”

Bedolla said the wire was stolen and staged nearby a cut-out of the fence near HWY 101.

Both men were booked at the San Mateo County jail.