LAKE COUNTY — The Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) is looking for community assistance to help identify two people of interest in a recent theft.?
On June 27, a sheriff”s deputy was dispatched to the 8700 block of Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville for a reported vandalism and theft.
The victim reported that a lock to his property was cut and some property was stolen.
The suspects in this crime also appeared to attempt a theft of copper wire and pipes from the property, according to LCSO Lt. Steve Brooks.
Two people of interest in this crime were captured on nearby surveillance video. The people of interest are pictured in still frames at https://local.nixle.com/alert/5034510/?sub_id=1275000.?
Copper and other metal theft has reached epidemic proportions within the U.S. and globally, authorities say.
According to the Department of Energy, copper theft is a $1 billion problem.
Metal theft is on the rise due to increased motivation and opportunity, according to authorities.
Motivation is fueled by high metal prices based on significant international demand for metals such as copper.
Brooks stated that methamphetamine and other drug users have been capitalizing on the demand and availability of these metals, along with the weak regulations involved in reselling the material.
The LCSO requests that people with information on the suspects or other leads related to metal theft call 263-2690.
