Copper Wire Theft: $100K in Building Damages

responded to the call of a burglary of a commercial building on California Circle Wednesday afternoon around 5:24 p.m.

An officer arriving within three minutes spotted a 1989 Ford Ranger leaving the premises. Police followed the truck and later stopped the driver in Fremont, according to a statement by the Milpitas Police Department.

Two suspects from San Jose, Jason Lemus, 38, and Bradley Moore, 49, were found with copper wire and cutting tools inside the truck. The two men were arrested for burglary, possession of burglary tools and conspiracy.

The price for copper on the global market, according to the London Metal Exchange, is higher than the last several years, after peaking at the beginning of 2011. On the scrap metal market, new shiny copper, stripped (without insulation) can net $4 a pound, according to calls to recycling centers made by Milpitas Patch.

The copper wiring stolen from the commercial building on the 1300 block of California Circle is not new wiring. It was cut from the inside of the building, damaging some electric lines and panels, according to Sgt. Darryl Sequeria. Police estimated the cost at more than $100K.

While Lemus and Moore were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail, they were no longer there as of Friday morning, the county sheriff's office confirmed. It is unknown if the two men posted bail or were released.