Metal Thefts Foiled (SB Sun May 22, 2006) 11 Arrests Made in Sting Operation....

I want to say that the Law Enforcement personnel did a Great Job with the apprehending and Subsequent Prosecution of the suspects in this case, I am just sorry that I didn't get my GREAT JOB's OUT QUICKER TO THE RIALTO POLICE DEPARTMENT, FONTANA POLICE DEPARTMENT & SAN BERNARDINO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. I know that the Men and woman of Rialto Police Wanted me to Thank You for your Dedicated Help with this Case and they could not have made any of the arrests stick had they not had your assistance with it. Thank you so much.

BSRancher

Metal thefts foiled 11 arrests made in sting operation Gina Tenorio, Staff Writer

FONTANA - A sting operation Sunday put a kink in the area's chain of commercial-metal thefts. Eleven people were arrested outside a recycling operation. Three of the arrests resulted in the recovery of stolen goods. Over the past month and half, sheriff's officials said 25 to 30 businesses in the west side of Fontana have been hit by metal thieves. Reports of the thefts copper and other metal materials have been growing nationwide. Experts attribute it to the metals' increasing market value and the demand for building materials in China. Law-enforcement officials across San Bernardino County are battling to stem the tide. In January, the Rialto Police Department set up surveillance at a business after a string of robberies in the south end of the city. Six people were arrested on suspicion of stealing precious metals. In late April, burglars hit a trio of Redlands construction sites, causing an estimated $500,000 in damage and losses when they took copper wiring and aluminum piping. Sunday's 8.5-hour sting operation started about 7 a.m. in the parking lot of Alamo Recycling, in the 14900 block of Valley Boulevard. The five deputies stopped and inspected anyone trying to recycle metal wiring and scraps for cash, said Detective Joe Silva. "If they had wire or copper wire or if it was marked Wal-Mart then we knew who to contact to check if it was stolen," Silva said. In addition to the three people arrested in connection with metal theft, Silva said deputies arrested eight others on a variety of violations - including possession of an illegal drug or drug paraphernalia. They also towed three cars and cited 15 other people who did not carry a scrap-collector's license. All scrap collectors and sellers must be licensed through the county, he said. The license is $15 for the initial purchase and $5 to renew, he said. "It's not expensive at all," Silva said. Silva estimated Sunday's sting recovered a fraction of the metal recently pilfered. "We'll be conducting more sweeps in the Fontana and Bloomington area," he said.