(press Release) The Clovis Police Department has arrested three men for stealing copper wire from five boxes in a subdivision across from Buchanan High School. A resident reported seeing the box near the bottom of a street light pole open Saturday afternoon. Officers canvassed the area to find wire had been stolen from an additional four boxes, leaving the neighborhood in the dark.
Sunday night a surveillance operation revealed the trio came back to the scene where they had tied off wires that they were going to pull. Officers caught the driver of the car, who ran from the scene and ended up in a canal. The other two remained in the vehicle with their burglary tools.
Clovis Police detectives early Monday morning arrested 42-year-old Mark Scott of Fresno for conspiracy to commit a felony theft, felony vandalism, possession of burglary tools and resisting a peace officer. Also arrested were 27-year-old Brian Monk of Fresno for conspiracy to commit grand theft, possession of burglary tools, a probation violation and possession of stolen property (copper wire) along with 45-year-old Gregory Presepe of Fresno for conspiracy to commit grand theft, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools and two outstanding warrants. Presepe’s girlfriend, 43-year-old Deborah Lawson, was also arrested Monday during the service of one of three search warrants at each suspect’s residence. Detectives arrested her for an outstanding arrest warrant and for felony possession of controlled substances.
The three men made off with an estimated $2,500 worth of copper wire from the neighborhood. Detectives believe they may be linked to copper wire thefts from new homes under construction and from PG&E in the Fresno/Clovis area. The investigation is continuing, and police hope to have an estimate Tuesday on how much it will cost the city to repair the damage.
TXT 24
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