$50,000 in Stolen Copper Wire Recovered; Two Arrests Made in Grand Theft Investigation NR25217ne

Mission Hills: On October 21, 2025, around 1:30 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department, Mission Area patrol units responded to a grand theft in progress in the 15000 block of Germain Street. 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.

Three of the suspects did not comply with officers’ commands and fled the scene on foot. One suspect was taken into custody by the initial officers and a second suspect was located and arrested by officers responding to the call. The two suspects were identified as 53-year-old Concepcion Vasquez, booking #7112854, and 51-year-old Jose Garcia Avila, booking #7112852.
They were both booked at Van Nuys Jail for 487 (A) PC – Grand Theft.

The estimated value of the copper wire stolen and recovered was $50,000. The case will be submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing. Detectives are actively searching for the two additional suspects. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional arrests are expected.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is urged to contact the LAPD Mission Area Detectives, at 818-838-9810. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directlyto www.lacrimestoppers.org. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.