The Kern County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two individuals amid a recent rise in copper wire thefts across northern Kern County farmlands.
On the morning of August 14, detectives from the Sheriff’s Rural Crime Investigation Unit were alerted to a potential copper wire theft in an orchard near Main Drain Road and Carmel Road, according to a press release.
During the investigation, detectives reportedly discovered evidence of a separate copper wire theft in the area.
The investigation led detectives to the 500 block of D Street in Wasco, where they allegedly caught two individuals stripping insulation from copper wire.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspects as Leonel Acevedo, 30, and Jesus Mesa, 42, both of Wasco.
Both Acevedo and Mesa were arrested and booked on suspicion of illegal possession of copper wire, conspiracy, vandalism, grand theft, and possession of stolen property.
