Thieves Try to Liberate Copper Wire From PG&E Office, Says Mendocino Deputies

Press release provided by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:

On 04-15-2015 at approximately 1:50 A.M, Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) office, located in the 2500 block of North State Street in Ukiah, California regarding a burglary alarm.

When Deputies arrived at the location they observed a male adult run from the rear yard area of the PG&E office.  Deputies chased after the male subject but lost him near the 2400 block of North State Street.

As Deputies searched the area they located evidence at the PG&E yard that showed a burglary had been committed and a large amount of copper wire was being stolen.

As Deputies continued their investigation at the PG&E office they observed a white Dodge pickup truck leaving the area where the crime occurred.  Deputies followed the pickup truck and conducted an investigative stop in the 1700 block of North State Street.

Deputies contacted the driver of the pickup truck, identified as Douglas Penn.  A records check through dispatched showed Penn’s driver’s license status was suspended and he was on felony probation for burglary out of Marin County.  Penn was arrested and detained for the suspended license and probation violations.

The passenger in the pickup truck gave Deputies a false name and was later identified as being Alejandro Rojas.

Deputies were told both suspects were transient from the Oakland area and they were just passing through the Ukiah area.

As Deputies continued their investigation they located evidence inside the pickup truck and on both Penn (driver) and Rojas (passenger) linking them to the burglary at the PG&E office.

Penn was arrested for burglary, grand theft, violation of probation, conspiracy to commit a felony and driving on a suspended license.  Penn was booked into the Mendocino County Jail to be held on a No Bail status.

Rojas was arrested for burglary, grand theft, conspiracy to commit a felony and giving a false name.  Rojas was booked into the Mendocino County Jail to be held in lieu of $45,000.00 bail.