Coalinga copper wire thieves chop down power poles, cause $50,000 in damages

Copper thieves in Coalinga chopped down seven wooden power poles, causing $50,000 in damage and power outages to dozens of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers.

On Sept. 17, a PG&E worker was alerted that electricity in the area of Calaveras and Palmer avenues had been interrupted. The worker found the downed power poles and determined 5,000 feet of copper wire had been stolen. Copper had also been taken from a transformer.

The crime occurred near a well pump station. The lines from the downed poles deliver power and allow water to be transferred from the station to Pleasant Valley State Prison and Coalinga State Hospital. A prison spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

Judging by power outage reports from dozens of customers, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office believes the crime happened around 12:30 a.m.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the sheriff’s agricultural crimes task force at 559-600-8150 or agcrimes@fresnosheriff.org. Crime Stoppers accepts anonymous tips at 559-498-7867.

This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 4:42 PM with the headline "Coalinga copper wire thieves chop down power poles, cause $50,000 in damages."