Police arrest suspect in $20,000 copper downspout theft

Photographs of the suspect were shared on social media, requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the individual

– A local man was arrested for grand theft after a social media tip led police to recover some of the 40 copper downspouts stolen from a San Luis Obispo shopping center, with authorities now investigating whether there are additional victims of the extensive theft, according to a recent press release.

On July 15, the San Luis Obispo Police Department responded to a reported theft of approximately 40 copper downspouts from the Irish Hills Shopping Center, located on the 1500 block of Froom Ranch. The estimated loss was $20,000. Photographs of the suspect were shared on social media, requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the individual.

Several weeks later, David Ruble, a 50-year-old local resident, was contacted by the Arroyo Grande Police Department and found in possession of six of the stolen downspouts. Further investigation by San Luis Obispo Police Detectives revealed that Ruble had sold over 1,000 pounds of copper downspouts and insulated copper wiring to a metal scrap yard in Santa Barbara County since July. Two individuals who saw the San Luis Obispo Police Department’s Facebook posting identified Ruble as the suspect.

Ruble was arrested by San Luis Obispo Police Officers on Aug. 13 for grand theft. He was booked without incident at the San Luis Obispo County Jail.

Due to the large volume of copper Ruble has sold in recent months, police believe there may be unreported victims. Anyone who has been the victim of copper downspout or insulated copper wiring theft is urged to contact Detective Hayden Warner at (805) 594-8042 or via email at hwarner@slocity.org.