Police ask for publics help in solving Copper Wire Thefts

What:
New Conference

When:
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
9:00 a.m.

Where:
Esperanza Street and Whittier Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90023

Who:
City Councilmember Jose Huizar, District 14
Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz, Commanding Officer, Operations Central Bureau
Captain Blake Chow, Commanding Officer, Hollenbeck Division
Aram Benyamin, Senior Assistant General Manager, Power Systems, DWP
Chris Mosman, Superintendent, Bureau of Street Lighting
Hollenbeck Division detectives

Why:
The Los Angeles Police Department has been working closely with the city council, the community and other agencies in working to reduce the rash of copper wire thefts. The Hollenbeck area has seen a rash of copper wire thefts specifically from city light poles.

Capt. Blake Chow, along with Councilmember Huizar, will announce the detention of possible suspects, but are requesting that additional witnesses step forward to aid in stopping these crimes.

Since August of this year, eight copper wire thefts have been reported in the Hollenbeck area. The most recent incident was reported on September 22, 2008 at Boyle Avenue and Short Street. Witnesses have described the suspects as two male Hispanics, approximately 25 to 30 years old, driving a maroon van.

The LAPD and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power are asking for the public’s help in solving these crimes, which often destroys city street lights and affects the community’s quality of life.

Photos of the suspect vehicle (a maroon van), a map of the locations that have been hit and copper wire will be on display at the press conference. The location of this event, Esperanza Street and Whittier Boulevard, is the scene of one of these crimes.