Sheriff Arrests Three for Stealing Manhole Covers

MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office arrested three Planada residents for stealing and trying to sell manhole covers.

Dawn McKay Dorothy Jane Alt Isaac Gonzales

Dorothy Jane Alt, 19, Joy Dawn McKay, 37, and Isaac Gonzalez, 30, were arrested at a recycling center in Madera County. They were trying to sell three manhole covers, but the recycler reported the attempted sale to the authorities.

According to authorities, Alt and McKay went into the business around 1 p.m. on Wednesday to try to sell the covers while Gonzalez waited in the car. The detective called to the scene questioned the suspects and they told him they found the covers at a former labor camp in Planada. They also told the detective they didn’t have permission to be on the site or take any materials.

The detective called the sheriff’s office to find out if there had been any recent thefts reported from the camp and was told that copper wire and steel manhole covers had been stolen that morning, authorities said.

A search of the suspects’ car revealed a steel pry bar, pipe wrench, tin snips and other tools used to removed manhole covers and wires.

The three suspects were booked at the Madera County Department of Corrections and could be facing felony charges. Bail was set at $10,000 for each of the suspects.

This is just one of many cases of thefts of metal and other recyclable materials. Recyclers are only allowed to accept manhole covers from government agencies like the city of county, according to the sheriff’s office.

Read More:

ABC30: 3 Arrested for Manhole Cover Theft in Madera County

Sheriff Arrests Three for Stealing Manhole Covers was last modified: February 1st, 2013 by admin
Categories: Madera
Tags: theft

About Author

Elizabeth Warmerdam

Beth Warmerdam is a freelance journalist based out of Reedley. She graduated from Fresno State in 2004 with a BA in print journalism and has worked for several newspapers and magazines. In addition to writing, Beth enjoys being a stay-at-home mom, trying to keep up with her 2-year-old son, Zachary.