CLOVIS - Police arrested three men for stealing copper wire from 5 boxes in the 600 block of Richmond, the 1500 block of Dartmouth and in the 70 block of Omaha in the subdivision across from Buchanan High School in the Wawona Ranch area.

Sunday night, a surveillance operation revealed the trio came back to the scene where they had tied off wires that they were going to pull. Officers caught the driver of the car, who ran from the scene and ended up in a canal. The other two remained in the vehicle with their burglary tools.

Clovis Police detectives early Tuesday morning arrested 42-year-old Mark Scott of Fresno for conspiracy to commit a felony theft, felony vandalism, possession of burglary tools and resisting a peace officer. Also arrested were 27-year-old Brian Monk of Fresno for conspiracy to commit grand theft, possession of burglary tools, a probation violation and possession of stolen property (copper wire) along with 45-year-old Gregory Presepe of Fresno for conspiracy to commit grand theft, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools and 2 outstanding warrants.

Presepe’s girlfriend, 43-year-old Deborah Lawson, was also arrested today during the service of one of three search warrants at each suspect’s residence. Detectives arrested her for an outstanding arrest warrant and for felony possession of controlled substances.

The three men made off with an estimated $2,500 worth of copper wire from the Clovis neighborhood. Detectives believe they may be linked to copper wire thefts from new homes under construction and from P.G. & E. in the Fresno/Clovis area. The investigation is continuing, and we hope to have an estimate tomorrow on how much it will cost the City of Clovis to repair the damage.