Copper wire thefts surge in California, hitting agriculture hard
By Anahita Jafary
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YOLO COUNTY, California (KCRA) — Yolo County is experiencing a significant increase in copper wire thefts, with the agricultural community suffering tens of thousands of dollars in losses over the past week.
“At least one per week, if not more,” said Sgt. Matt Wirick of the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, referring to the frequency of the thefts.
Wirick noted the rise in thefts is unprecedented.
“As long as I’ve been involved in investigating agricultural crime, here, for this agency, which is the past several years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen these numbers,” he said.
The thefts primarily involve electrical wire used to power agricultural pumps and wells.
“It’s most often found in the highest volumes in the form of electrical wire that often have to travel those long distances to serve agricultural pumps and wells,” Wirick said.
According to Wirick, there have been about 15 reported incidents in the past three months. In the most recent case, two suspects were identified just outside the city of Davis.
“Just outside the city of Davis, we were able to identify two suspects. In one of those cases, both of those suspects are from the Stockton area, and both have active warrants for their arrest,” Wirick said.
To address the issue, the sheriff’s office plans to implement targeted patrols, live surveillance, and site visits in affected areas.
“Farmers and ranchers [are] experiencing higher costs for fuel and materials and, you know, often dealing with fixed prices for their commodities and so the theft, and loss due to theft or vandalism, you know, results in further shrinking margins for them,” Wirick said.
The sheriff’s office stated that copper wire theft is considered grand theft, a felony, in most cases.
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