Thermal man charged with burglary & vandalism for landfill copper thefts
Burglary and felony vandalism charges were filed today against a Thermal man accused of stealing copper wire from an irrigation pump station, causing $12,000 in damage to the building in Thermal.
Jose Eduardo Mascareno, 38, of Thermal, is also accused of burglarizing the operations building at the Riverside County Oasis Landfill in unincorporated Oasis last Sept. 26, said sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Frederick, who did not disclose what was taken in the break-in.
The copper wire theft at the Thermal irrigation pump station occurred on Jan. 1.
Frederick said other reports of metal thefts and burglaries in the area were being investigated in connection with Mascareno’s arrest last Thursday on Avenue 70, near Pierce Street in Thermal.
He’s being held in lieu of $12,000 bail and is expected to make his initial court appearance this afternoon.
Download the KESQ & CBS Local 2 app on iTunes or Google Play for up-to-the-minute breaking news alerts & more
More: I-Team and Stands for You investigations
Find us on Facebook: KESQ News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2
Follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates: @KESQ & @Local2
We’re on Instagram! @KESQ_News_Channel_3 & @CBSLocal2
Noticias en español: Telemundo 15
