Three arrested in East Bay with massive stash of copper wire, catalytic converters

( KRON ) — Three people were arrested in San Pablo Tuesday morning after the San Pablo Police Department seized a huge stash of stolen copper wire and catalytic converters, police said.

Police learned in August of illicit copper wire sales happening in San Pablo and opened an investigation. Partnering with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, they identified three suspects.

SPPD and CCCSO served search warrants on the 1700 block of Road 20 in San Pablo and the 1000 block of Brooksdale Drive in Richmond at 8 a.m.

They found more than 700 catalytic converters, more than 1,100 pounds of copper wire cables and more than $113,000 in cash, San Pablo police said.

“The suspects are believed to have been involved in an ongoing criminal enterprise to buy and sell stolen property, with more than $6.4 million in transactions in 2024 alone,” SPPD said.

The men were arrested on felony charges of grand theft of copper materials and receiving stolen property. Police did not identify the suspects.

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