Two men jailed in Thermal copper theft

THERMAL, Calif. – Two men suspected of stealing about $5,000 worth of copper wiring and electrical equipment from a power substation in Thermal are behind bars.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department officials said the Imperial Irrigation District power substation on Pierce Street was vandalized and burglarized on Wednesday.

David Cruz, 28, and Mario Sandoval, 32, both of Thermal, were arrested in connection with the theft and destruction, according to jail records.

The damage was estimated at approximately $20,000 and the theft totaled about $5,000, Deputy Arnoldo Iniguez said.

Both men were booked into the Indio Jail.

Sandoval, who was on probation for a previous crime, was being held without bail while Cruz remained jail in lieu of $25,000.