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CHP Air Unit Guides Arrest of Suspected Copper Wire Thieves at Fresno Overpass

The case highlights how aerial surveillance is reshaping efforts to curb costly wire thefts.

Overview

  • California Highway Patrol air operations spotted a suspected copper wire theft near a Fresno high‑speed rail overpass and directed ground units that arrested two men.
  • Officials identified the suspects as 38-year-old Jason Matthew Walker Sr. and 53-year-old Bryan Charles Boreliz after video showed them surrendering beside their truck.
  • Investigators said the truck had a rope tied to its hitch to yank cable from the overpass, and about 15 to 25 feet of wire had already been pulled.
  • CHP leaders linked the surge in thefts to high scrap-copper prices that let crews sell stripped wire to metal dealers for quick cash.
  • Los Angeles reports more than $20 million a year in repair costs from wire theft and has floated a homeowner tax after rejecting a low-cost private fix.