Suspects Arrested for Copper Wire Thefts

[Howard Hartman]

	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 2012	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Suspects Arrested for Copper Wire Thefts

Suspect Photos

Montgomery County Police 4th District officers have arrested six suspects for the theft of copper wire along Connecticut Avenue between Georgia Avenue and Weller Road in the Aspen Hill area.

In the beginning of February 2012, undercover officers received information from a Verizon representative that unknown subjects were stealing heavy duty copper wire along Connecticut Avenue.

On February 23, at approximately 10:40 p.m., the officers were conducting surveillance on Connecticut Avenue due to these recent thefts when they observed several subjects operating a bucket truck in the area. The subjects were observed cutting down large sections of copper wire from between telephone poles and placing the wires into the bed of a pick-up truck.

Representatives from Verizon were contacted and told police that no work was authorized at the location from which the wire was being removed.

Based on this information, the six suspects were arrested and charged as follows:

• Jose R. Chavez, age 43, of the 1900 block of Old Post Terrace in Woodbridge, VA.
• Jose R. Chavez, age 19, of the 1900 block of Old Post Terrace in Woodbridge, VA.
• Carlos Chavez-Ponce, age 27, of the unit block of Stevens Circle in Stafford, VA.
• Omar A. Hidalgo, age 19, of the 1300 block of Redbud Court in Woodbridge, VA.
• Jose R. Chavez-Mendoza, age 59, of the 2100 block of Old Ironside Court in Woodbridge, VA.
• Romulo O. Barrera, age 37, of the 2100 block of Old Ironside Court in Woodbridge, VA.

The suspects were charged with various counts of theft to include theft scheme $1,000 to under $10,000, theft over $10,000 to under $100,000, conspiracy to commit theft over $10,000 to under $100,000, and malicious destruction of property over $500. All of the suspects were released on their own recognizance. Future court date information is unavailable at this time.

According to Verizon representatives, over 1800 feet of copper wire was recovered by police with a value of approximately $31,500.

Connecticut Avenue between Georgia Avenue and Weller Road in Aspen Hill

Jose R. Chavez

Jose R. Chavez

Carlos Chavez-Ponce

Omar A. Hildago

Jose R. Chavez-Mendoza

Romulo O. Barrera