Milpitas police arrest pair after 300 pounds of stolen copper found

By Tim Fang

Authorities in the South Bay said they arrested two women after hundreds of pounds of copper wire was found inside a vehicle over the weekend.

According to Milpitas Police, officers were called to the 700 block of Sycamore Drive, between McCarthy Boulevard and Buckeye Drive around 7 p.m. Sunday. Police received reports of the women, who appeared to be loitering around an enclosed construction site.

Officers arrived at the scene and found the suspects and their van. Police said the officers found about 300 pounds of stolen copper wire inside the vehicle, counterfeit money and drug paraphernalia, along with what they described as “other illegal items.”

“Copper theft isn’t a victimless crime,” police said in a statement. “Beyond the value of the stolen metal, it can cause extensive damage to construction sites, businesses, and utility infrastructure, leading to costly repairs, dangerous conditions, and disruptions that impact the entire community.”

The suspects, identified as a 58-year-old and 49-year-old from San Jose, were arrested. Both women were booked into jail on suspicion of conspiracy, grand theft, possession of stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia, loitering, forgery and illegal possession of pepper spray by a convicted felon.

Police did not release the suspects’ names.