CHP: Three Caught Stealing Copper Wire From Highway Sign
CISCO GROVE (CBS13) -- Three North Highlands area men were caught stealing copper wire from a Caltrans traffic advisory sign during the early morning hours Tuesday, according to the CHP.
The suspects were taking copper wire from the advisory sign on westbound Interstate 80 west of Cisco Grove when two CHP officers located their vehicle in the area and arrested them without incident.
The suspects were identified as Herb Henrikson, 29, John Paulin, 46, and Justin LeBoutheller, 31, all from the North Highlands area. They had the stolen copper wire in their possession and the tools used to remove it, the CHP said.
All three were booked into the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada City.
"Not only are the costs associated with replacing the stolen wire and repairing damaged equipment a great expense to California taxpayers, these criminal acts also comprise public safety," said CHP Lt. Commander John Arrabit in a press release announcing the arrests. "We're taking these crimes seriously. Copper thieves will be caught and prosecuted."
The arrests follow a joint effort between Caltrans and the CHP after several Caltrans electrical boxes in the area had been stripped of copper wire recently.
