Man, woman arrested for copper wire theft

A man and woman were arrested after police in Rancho Mirage found them removing copper cable from an electrical room.

Police said an officer patrolling Bob Hope Drive and Highway 111 found a suspicious vehicle backed into a parking lot behind a commercial building around 3:15 a.m. Monday.

When the officer pulled into the lot, Temecula resident Gregory Strahl, 42, ran from the scene. He was located by responding officers a short while later.

Police also found a woman in the vehicle, 43-year-old Loueenia Skgelstad of Menifee. After investigating, both Strahl and Skgelstad were arrested for burglary and possession of burglary tools.

Both suspects were booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio.

The room they were attempting to steal copper cable from distributes electricity to several business suites within the complex, according to police.

Copper theft continues to be a crime that’s plaguing local communities and the Rancho Mirage Police Department said it will continue to provide active patrols to curb the number of offenders.