Toxic Addiction: Copper thefts on the rise

Tony Oliveira woke up May 1 with $10,000 worth of property damage, the work of thieves who spent the night cutting copper conduit wire from five irrigation pumps scattered across his 4,000-acre ranch near Lemoore.

The heist was just one incident in an ongoing epidemic of copper wire theft in Kings County and the surrounding areas.

The motive is as simple to identify as it is difficult to eliminate, according to local officials familiar with the problem.

Ninety percent of the time, the thefts are connected to the highly addictive street drug known as methamphetamine, said Ty Milton, a detective with the Kings County rural crime task force.

"I think there's a direct link. I think that's one of the biggest reasons why rural crime has increased," said Ryan Bertao, Kings County Farm Bureau executive director.

Officials got direct confirmation of their suspicions when they busted a meth lab south of the Hanford Municipal Airport in April.

The suspected operators already were being investigated for agricultural metal theft, according to Sgt. Mark Bray of the Fresno County Sheriff's ag crimes unit.

"From our standpoint, this personal meth lab reinforces the fact that many of the folks involved in stealing ag metals -- such as copper wires for ag pumps, radiators and irrigation covers -- are oftentimes also meth users," Bray said.

With copper wire selling for $2 to $3 a pound, and a typical hit of meth running between $10 and $20, it doesn't take a math whiz to recognize the opportunity.

Hundreds of irrigation pumps scattered across miles of remote farmland make for tempting targets.

Some of the thefts are well-staged with lookouts and teams of cutters. Others are more desperate. Some people have been electrocuted while attempting to remove the wire.

"Some are just completely reckless," Milton said. "They'll do anything they can to get it."

Sometimes, the wire is pulled out of the ground. More commonly, it's yanked from above-ground plastic conduits.

Wayne Wisecarver, who farms land south of Hanford on Highway 43, said he had wire ripped from two irrigation pumps, one in November last year and another this spring.

Oliveira said thieves made off with five strands, some of them 100 feet long, in the May 1 incident on his property.

The criminals likely converted the strands into cash at a metal recycling center and spent the proceeds on the next dose of meth, according to the most common scenario described by Milton.

"Every bit of energy of addicts goes into having the next fix," said Mary Anne Ford Sherman, Kings County behavioral health director.

Alcohol, by contrast, doesn't produce the same level of theft because it is cheaper and more readily available, Ford Sherman said.

And then there's the difference in intensity.

A "hit" of meth -- anywhere from 0.2 to 0.4 grams for a habitual user -- can produce a high lasting 10 to 12 hours.

"Meth is an extremely addictive drug that drives users to lie, cheat or steal to get (it)," said Milton, who linked it to a smorgasbord of crimes including rape, homicide, carjackings and identity theft.

Agricultural theft produced $1 million in Kings County losses last year, although half of that amount was eventually recovered.

"It's a big problem. We're doing our best. We're doing everything we possibly can," Milton said.

Milton and other sheriff's deputies notify farmers when heists take place, said Ryan Bertao, Kings County Farm Bureau executive director.

But with the cover of night and Kings County's vast open spaces working in their favor, many copper wire thieves get away with it.

"I would think that the only thing a person could do is put a big chainlink fence around it and lock it," said Wisecarver, who declined to give the exact location of his property for fear of being "cleaned out."

Those who are caught usually face at least one felony charge of theft and/or vandalism. Punishments range from fines, probation, jail time or a stint in state prison.

Farmers need to remain vigilant, check their property, keep track of employees and report anything suspicious, Milton said.

Tougher restrictions are also needed on recyclers, he added.

"If we were really able to eliminate that, there would be a significant reduction in agricultural crime," Milton said.

Tony Oliveira said he's now encasing the copper electrical wires in steel tubing, making it more difficult for would-be burglars to break into.

"They're out there, and we're going to have to watch it," he said.

The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3061.

(Sept. 24, 2007)