Some thieves steal cars, others rob banks. In Sacramento, the big-ticket item lately is copper wire, and local copper thieves have hit the central city hard. Why steal copper wire? “Because it’s easily accessible,” said Sacramento Police Department spokesman Sgt. Andrew Pettit Thursday, “and there is plenty of it.” With miles of copper wire found in streetlights, electrical boxes, buildings and vacant foreclosed homes – places thieves won’t usually be deterred by watching eyes – copper wiring is easy pickings. And, at roughly $2.75 per pound, copper theft can be a lucrative business. According to a recent district letter from City Councilman Rob Fong’s office, copper wire thieves hit

Posted by smcnamee I have received money orders from someone I don’t know. Could I bring them to the police station to be verified "Legal Tender" so as not to be caught up in a possible fraudulent scheme? Dear smcnamee, It may be a fishing expedition. Crooks that partake in these expeditions send out mass mailings in the hopes that one or two people will bite on their lure. You’re wise to be cautious.  Unfortunately, this often works, and it is hard to trace the originator.  You can call the Financial Crimes Unit in your jurisdiction and speak to an investigator about your situation. If you live in the city of Sacramento, the telephone number is 808-0650. Our investigators are doing mo

Sacramento’s Ride Your Own Way bike share program suffered a setback when three bicycles were stolen earlier this month, but organizers said they are going forward with an updated system, and new bicycles will soon be ordered. “Someone stole a credit card and used that to check out the bikes,” said Midtown Business Association Executive Director Rob Kerth. “We’ve made some changes to how people have to validate the credit card, so we’ll be able to tell if it’s the right person.” The program, which launched June 11, allows bicycles to be rented from one of two kiosks in Midtown – one at the Priority Parking lot at 16th and I streets and one at the Priority Parking lot at 27th and J street

Midtown resident Sheila Wages treasured her brand-new bicycle – a seven-speed cruiser her boyfriend had put a lot of effort into picking out for her. She kept it in her back yard, from where it was stolen in August. Wages started a Facebook page for stolen Midtown bicycles within the next couple of days. “It started out as a joke,” she said, adding that the Facebook page has since taken on a life of its own, where users will post details of their stolen bikes and possible places to look out for them. “When my bike was first stolen, I didn’t realize what an epidemic (bike theft) was,” Wages said. “You’ve got to lock them up and take them inside if you can.” According to Wages, one of th

Posted by R.G. Angel Dear Officer Michelle, I like to sleep with the windows slightly open in my room to allow fresh air in when I am sleeping. However, on garbage and recycle collection nights, I have been woken by the sounds of someone going through the recycle cans and collecting the cans and glass bottles. I am wondering if there is someone I can call to report this or someway to have this issue looked into to. Thanks, ~Angel Dear R.G. Angel, This is a common problem. If you live in the city limits, you can call the Police Department’s non-emergency number at 264-5471 and request an officer be dispatched. There is an ordinance that makes it illegal to rummage through recyclables.

I am still reeling from a theft of 2 bikes stolen at Onespeed last night.  My heart is in my throat as I write this account of horrible loss.  Some will say its just a few bikes but in my sphere of influence it brings great sorrow. 2  well loved commuter bikes  were stolen last night by 2 lost caucasian  teenage boys wearing black T shirts and short haircuts. They were short and thick around the ankles with heavy and slow shifty eyes which  earmarked them as up to no good. One said they were waiting for a ride and the other noted he had 4 bikes in the shop, one a Torker another a Cannondale  when they commented on my delivery bike outside of Onespeed Pizza. They waited what seemed a half

In the now thriving Sacramento art scene, theft has been a recurring problem among college artists. Since 2005 American River College students and instructors have been seemingly targeted as victims of art theft. Within the past year the problem has become increasingly worse, with three pieces taken weeks apart from each other. On Aug. 15, 2005, Craig Schindler, an instructor at ARC had a painting titled, "Para Las Mujeres Victimas de Cuidad Juarez" [translated as "For the victims of Cuidad Juarez"], taken from the Kanakos Gallery, a gallery located on the campus of ARC for students and faculty. Schindler said the painting was a tribute to the women being victimized and found dead in th