Four East Bay Residents Face Felony Charges Over $200,000 Fremont Utility Wire Thefts
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · May 29
Four East Bay Residents Face Felony Charges Over $200,000 Fremont Utility Wire Thefts
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · May 29
Four East Bay residents were charged after Fremont police linked them to a string of utility wire thefts that triggered more than $200,000 in damage enhancements.
May 9 thefts on Peralta Boulevard cut fiber-optic and coaxial lines, causing about $50,000 in damage and knocking out internet, phone and TV service for roughly 10,000 customers.
Surveillance video and suspect vehicles tied the group to the initial theft, and detectives said the same suspects returned May 13 for another $5,000 in cable and stole more wire elsewhere in Fremont on May 20.
David Elmore, Nicole Elmore, Eric Kosskela and Marc Rice were arrested, and prosecutors filed counts of damaging or tampering with utility lines, felony vandalism and grand theft.
With wire theft surging, are new laws and rewards enough to protect our critical infrastructure?
Why is our essential communication network so easily crippled by thieves with basic tools?