THERMAL (CNS) - A 59-year-old Thermal man was arrested for allegedly possessing nearly a half-ton of stolen copper wire, valued at $40,000, sheriff's officials said today. Riverside County sheriff's deputies investigating copper wire thefts in Thermal served a search warrant Friday in the 84000 block of Avenue 55, according to Sgt. Chris Frederick.
Deputies allegedly found Domingo Lopes in possession of 450 pounds of copper wire that they suspected was connected to the recent thefts. The wire was confiscated by authorities, and Lopes was arrested on suspicion of operating as a junk dealer without a license and possessing stolen property.
He was booked into the Indio Larson Justice Center but was released after posting $40,000 bail.