3 Winchester Copper Wire Heist Suspects Behind Bars: Cops

WINCHESTER, CA — Two men and a woman suspected of stealing over $7,000 worth of copper wire in Winchester Tuesday were taken into custody.

Deputies from the Perris Sheriff's Station responded to the intersection of Winchester and Scott roads around 8:09 a.m. Tuesday to reports regarding grand theft, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

After further investigation, investigators determined that over $7,000 of copper wire was stolen overnight. They also learned that a similar theft of over $21,000 worth of copper wire had occurred at the same location on Thursday.

Investigators from the Perris Station Robbery Burglary Suppression Team, with assistance from the Special Enforcement Team and Investigations Bureau personnel, executed a search warrant in the 3300 block of Washington Street, where they located the stolen wire at a residence.

"Three suspects were located at the property along with the stolen copper wire," sheriff's officials said in a statement.

The suspects were later identified as:

39-year-old Timothy Welch and 21- year-old Natalie Medina, both residents of Winchester, along with 44-year- old Richard Fulmer of Hemet.

All three suspects were booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center.

Welch was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor warrants, while Medina and Fulmer were booked on suspicion of possessing stolen property, sheriff's officials said. Fulmer was also in violation of probation.

Anyone with additional information regarding the case was urged to call Riverside County Sheriff's Department Investigator Barbee at 951-776-1099 or the Perris Sheriff's Station at 951-210-1000.