Copper-Wire Thieves Caught Red-Handed In Pasadena: Police

PASADENA, CA — Three people were arrested this week on suspicion of stealing valuable copper wire from underground electrical boxes in Pasadena, according to the Pasadena Police Department.

Officers responded to the 1800 block of East Corson Street Monday in response to a report of people tampering with a city-owned electrical box. Police found two men and a woman next to the boxes, police said.

The suspects had removed the box cover and cut wires inside the box. Police searched their vehicle and found additional copper wire and tools, police said.

The two men admitted they intended to steal the copper wire from the city box, police said.

The three people were arrested were Candido Benitez Jr., 27, of Los Angeles; Javier Soto, 43, who is homeless; and Lizbet Echeverria, 31, of North Hollywood, according to police.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office declined to file charges on Wednesday. Police will now present the case to the Pasadena City Prosecutor's office for misdemeanor filing consideration, police said.

The arrests come amid a high volume of copper-wire thefts from underground utility boxes in Pasadena. There were 10 such thefts in November and four additional thefts in December, police said.

Copper is valuable as a scrap metal and can be traded in for cash at recycling centers.