Bexar County deputies say they have cracked what they are calling an "illegal construction equipment enterprise," hauling away roughly 1,000 circuit breaker panels and about 800 bundles of Romex copper wiring. Two people, 31-year-old Rodrin Alexis Garcia Rivera and 68-year-old Pedro Lozano, were arrested and now face charges tied to organized criminal activity.
According to KENS5, deputies executed a search warrant at a storage unit registered to Rivera after observing what they believed was a suspicious transaction. Inside, investigators say they found the stockpile of electrical gear and also recovered three vehicles they believe were purchased with proceeds from the alleged operation. The sheriff's office told reporters the items had been stored and shuffled around various locations in Bexar County, and officials say they expect additional arrests as the investigation continues.
The seizure lines up with a troubling pattern in the region. Earlier this year, deputies recovered about $80,000 in stolen construction materials in a separate case, and officials told KSAT that thieves often hit active job sites for parts that can be flipped quickly for cash. Law enforcement and industry representatives warn that these thefts can stall projects, drive up costs, and create safety headaches for both workers and homeowners.
What Deputies Say They Found
Deputies told KENS5 the search turned up about 1,000 breaker panels along with roughly 800 bundles of Romex wiring. Rivera and Lozano were booked on counts that include engaging in organized criminal activity. Investigators also seized three vehicles that they say may have been bought with money tied to the alleged scheme.
Legal Implications
Engaging in organized criminal activity falls under Texas Penal Code Chapter 71. Under that chapter, a prosecution is treated as one category higher than the most serious underlying offense, which can sharply increase potential penalties if prosecutors prove the crimes that are alleged. The statute lays out how those offenses are defined and how punishment levels are calculated.
How Builders and Homeowners Can Protect Materials
Contractors are being urged to tighten up security on materials that are easy to grab and resell. Recommendations include storing supplies behind locked fences or in monitored storage areas, keeping detailed inventory records, marking or photographing expensive components, and using video surveillance or GPS trackers for especially high-value items. Local coverage has repeatedly stressed that reporting missing materials to law enforcement as quickly as possible improves the odds of getting them back, a point highlighted in recent reporting by KSAT.
How To Report Tips
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about the case to call the non-emergency dispatch line at 210-335-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 210-224-STOP (7868). The county's reporting page lists those and other contact options. Investigators say they are continuing to develop leads and that more arrests are possible as the probe moves forward.
