Thursday, April 23, 2015

Arrest made in Copper Wire theft

   Stanislaus County Rural Crimes Detectives arrested 26 year old John Evans and 25 year old Shalene Wise, both from Modesto, as a result of their investigation into the theft of telephone wire that disrupted service in La Grange yesterday, according to a press release.

   Evans was arrested for alleged Possession of Stolen Property and Possession of burglary tools and Wise was arrested for alleged Criminal Conspiracy.

   During the investigation Detective Cody Williams found that AT&T employees estimated 1000' of 50 strand  communication wire had been stolen and it caused approximately $65,000 in damage.

   AT&T spent several hours yesterday restoring service to the residents of Mariposa, Tuolumne and Stanislaus County who were affected.

   This morning Detectives Cody Williams and Ryan Jenkins began checking with all the local recyclers to see if the wire had been brought in.

   They found that a local recycler near Beard Ave. in Modesto had taken in over 110 pounds of copper wire just after 5 PM yesterday.

    Detective Williams identified Evans and Wise as possible suspects after speaking with employees from the recycling center.

   At approximately 10:45 AM today Detectives Williams and Jenkins went to the suspects residence in the 2400 block of Sunrise Ave in Modesto, where they located both Evans and Wise.

   After a search of the residents he found evidence to show that Evans was in possession of the stolen communication wire and Wise assisted him in removing the insulation from the copper wire.

   Detective Williams said " By removing the insulation from the copper wire it increases the value at a recycling center because the recycling center will not have to do it themselves."

   Both were arrested and have been booked in Stanislaus County Jail facilities.

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