Police arrest two for Morgan Hill streetlight wire theft

Morgan Hill Police arrested two men who allegedly stole copper wire from city-owned streetlight poles, authorities said. 

The Feb. 25 arrests occurred shortly after the Morgan Hill Police Department sent out a notice asking the public for help in reporting the recent ongoing thefts. 

On Feb. 23, MHPD officers found out that thieves had stolen copper wire from a number of light poles on Butterfield Boulevard, between East Dunne Avenue and Monterey Road, police said. The thieves had accessed the wires by removing the concrete cover or digging under the concrete base for the power supply at the foot of the light poles. 

The wire thefts caused numerous streetlights to lose their power, police said. 

Police said that the thieves often use professional looking vehicles, equipment and uniforms to mask their crimes while stealing in broad daylight. 

At 11:52pm Feb. 25, a city employee saw two men tampering with a light pole power box on Butterfield Boulevard at Fisher Avenue, MHPD said in an updated press release. Both suspects fled the area after being observed. 

MHPD officers were already en route to the area, and when police arrived they located Miguel Corona Valdez, 32, walking on Butterfield Boulevard, police said. Officers took him into custody without incident. 

Minutes later, police located Candelario Contreras Rios, 38, in the area of Monterey Road and Vineyard Boulevard. Officers apprehended him without incident, authorities said. 

An investigation found that copper wire had been removed from the power boxes where the city employee had seen two men, causing all the affected streetlights to lose power, police said. The damage from the theft is estimated at more than $20,000. 

Both Valdez and Rios were taken to the Santa Clara County Jail and booked on suspicion of felony vandalism, grand theft and conspiracy, police said. 

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