Reward Offered in Santee Copper Thefts

Access covers damaged in copper thefts

San Diego County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for a recent series of copper wire thefts in Santee.

Since December 2013, about 4,000 feet of copper wiring has been stolen. The wire has been pulled from electrical boxes servicing street lights, walkway lighting and irrigation systems. The thefts have been concentrated in the Mission Creek and Town Center areas of Santee.

To get to the wire, the perpetrators have broken cement covers and other access points at electrical service boxes in the ground and at the base of light poles.  The cost to repair the damage has exceeded $60,000.

Anyone with information about the thefts is urged to call the Sheriff’s Department
 at (619) 956-4000 or the Crime Stoppers' anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. Anonymous email and text messages can be sent via www.sdcrimestoppers.com

Help Us Solve Copper Wire Thefts

City officials today asked for the public’s help in solving a spate of copper wire thefts over the past month in the Town Center and Mission Creek areas of Santee.

Since mid-December, thieves have struck at 13 locations, including Town Center Community Park and Mast Park.  The thefts have resulted in non-functioning lights  on walkways, parks and street lights.

The replacement costs and repairs will cost the city approximately $48,000.

The city is attempting to retrofit the electrical boxes to make them less vulnerable to thieves, but the repairs will require time and patience from the public.  

Anyone with information about the thefts, or if you see something suspicious, contact Det. Carl Miller at the Santee Sheriff’s Station at (619) 956-4037.