Police and a city councilwoman from the San Fernando Valley were expected to release details Friday about the search for outstanding suspects involved in the interrupted theft in Mission Hills of copper wire worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Two suspects, identified as 53-year-old Concepcion Vasquez and 51-year-old Jose Garcia Avila, were nabbed early Tuesday morning as they allegedly tried to steal $50,000 worth of copper wire in the 15000 block of Germain Street, near San Jose Elementary School just west of Woodman Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Both men were booked into the LAPD’s Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of grand theft, but two alleged accomplices got away.
The arrests were made the same day the Los Angeles City Council gave its final approval to a proposed ordinance that would create a Metal and Wire Theft Reward program to fight rampant copper wire theft in the city.
Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, whose Seventh District includes Mission Hills, will be joined at a news conference Friday afternoon along with brass from the LAPD’s Mission Station to discuss the status of the ongoing investigation, which began after officers were alerted around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday to a “grand theft in progress,” according to LAPD statement.
“The person reporting observed multiple suspects cutting copper wire from an electrical pole and called the police. Upon arrival, the officers observed four suspects at the location with large pieces of copper wire and metal cutting tools on the ground,” police said.
Three of the four suspects ignored commands to surrender and fled on foot. One fleeing suspect was located as backup arrived, but two got away, police said.
Additional arrests are expected, according to the LAPD. Anyone with information about the case was urged to call Mission Station detectives at 818-838-9810.
The tipster who called police thwarting Tuesday’s theft may be the very type of concerned citizen city officials hope the new ordinance will encourage and reward.
In an 11-2 vote, council members approved the ordinance, which now heads to Mayor Karen Bass for her consideration. The ordinance aims to offer rewards for information involving theft of city plaques, tombstones, statues, light standards, and copper wire, and theft of metals linked to the Sixth Street Bridge, which has gone dark.
The city would offer a $5,000 reward for felony grand theft, and $1,000 for misdemeanor theft.
“Copper wire and other metal theft isn’t pretty — it’s organized crime that darkens our streets, cuts the internet to homes and schools, and robs us of our history when they steal statues and historic markers,” 11th District City Councilwoman Traci Park said in a previous statement. “Our citywide reward program takes these thieves head-on so we can keep lights on, kids connected and taxpayers protected,” she added.
In 2024, as a result of brazen copper wire theft on the Sixth Street Bridge, elected officials and the LAPD created the Heavy Metal Task Force to crack down on metal theft in the downtown areas, and later in some neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley.
According to a report from the City Attorney’s Office, the LAPD believes that the adoption of the reward program will assist in the identification, apprehension and conviction, or final adjudication, of persons who commit acts of metal and wire theft.