SHAFTER — A 42-year Shafter man was arrested earlier this week after allegedly stealing a piece of equipment from one of California’s largest utility companies.
Vernon Phillips was booked into the Central Receiving Facility in Bakersfield on one charge of possession of stolen property.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, deputies from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crime Unit went to the area of Beech Avenue and Burbank Street in Shafter the week of June 23, to explore the increase of stolen equipment in the area.
During their investigation, deputies said they made contact with Phillips in the 18000 block of Beech Avenue. Phillips, who is not a PG&E employee, was found to be in possession of one of the utility company’s stolen gas detectors, which he did not have permission to possess.
Philips was subsequently arrested. The gas detector is worth approximately $4,000.
