Metal Theft Crackdown Nets 7 Arrests

A one-day crackdown on area metal thefts resulted in seven arrests and pending charges on several others.

On Feb. 2, about 50 officers from several Sacramento-area law enforcement agencies fanned out in multi-agency teams and contacted parolees and probationers with past connections to metal theft.

Officers conducted approximately 40 probation and parole searches throughout Sacramento and south Placer counties, looking for stolen metal and other evidence of metal theft, other stolen property, illegal drugs, or any other violations of parole or probation terms.  Seven people were arrested, and charges are pending against several others, according to Roseville Police.

The crackdown was an effort to send a message to metal thieves: Stop ripping off our communities, according to the Roseville Police Department.

Sacramento-area law enforcement agencies will continue to work together to address the problem, including the metal thieves and recyclers who buy stolen property.

Over the past few months, the entire region has been hit by an epidemic of metal theft.  , , buildings and construction sites, brass and copper plumbing fittings, utility covers and metal markers, and then selling the metal to scrap yards.   While the thieves get fairly small amounts of money for their efforts, they're costing our residents, businesses and local governments hundreds of thousands of dollars in replacement and repair costs. 



Agencies participating in the operation included U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (state parole), the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, Placer County Sheriff's Office, Yolo County District Attorney's Office, the probation departments of Sacramento and Placer Counties and the Roseville, Rocklin and Sacramento Police Departments.