Mayor Calls Copper Thefts an 'Arms Race', Former Homeless Addict Adds His Two Cents

The City of Santee asked for resident's help last week to solve a rash of copper wire thefts recently in the Town Center area of town that have cost the city more than $48,000.

Thieves have struck at at least 13 locations in the last month, including Mast Park and Town Center Park.

"This is an arms race! I did two tours in Vietnam and I'm getting attacked here by the Vietcong, stealing my copper, and I don't like it," Santee Mayor Randy Voepel told 10 News.

He said the thieves have moved from taking copper wiring in lights, risking electrocution often times, to copper pipes.

Earlier this month Voepel wrote a message to the community deriding these metal thefts and blaming them on groups of homeless using free cell phones to coordinate the copper theft "attacks."

Dolores Diaz, with the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, told 10 News that homelessness isn't a crime, and that authorities should be focusing on the criminal act.

An email suggesting that the authorities focus on the purchasers of stolen metals, namely recycling centers, was sent to the city recently:

"I just saw the report on the news about the copper thefts. I am a former homeless meth addict who lived in the Santee/Lakeside river bed for about 6 years. I now have 5 years sober! You are correct in your accusations of the people stealing copper but you are going about it the wrong way. Maybe you should look at the people purchasing the stolen copper? The recycling companies know who the homeless people are and they know that when a homeless person brings in a substantial amount that it is more often than not stolen and yet they continue to purchase the stolen goods. Hope this helps!"

Related articles:

• Copper Wire Thefts Cost Santee $48,000, Public Asked to Help Solve the Spree
• Metal Thefts by 'Meth Heads' Cost Santee Thousands of Dollars
• 'Tweekers' Steal Copper Using Government Aid Cell Phones, Says Santee Mayor