A seven-month run of copper rip-offs across Sonoma County has ended with two arrests in Santa Rosa, after detectives say thieves repeatedly hit telecom and utility lines and left more than $100,000 in damage behind. The case centered on a large haul on the 7000 block of Highway 116 near Cotati, and wrapped after deputies served search warrants in Santa Rosa and recovered suspected stolen copper and other evidence.
Investigators searched a residence and a business on the 900 block of Leddy Avenue, where they say they found suspected stolen copper wiring along with other items. Detectives say one suspect had been selling stolen copper to a scrapyard on Leddy Avenue. According to sheriff's officials, roughly $10,000 in copper was taken from the Highway 116 site, and damage tied to the broader series of thefts exceeded $100,000. Detectives identified Michael Salido from surveillance images and prior contacts involving the vehicle in question, and he now faces six felony counts related to burglary and grand theft. Another person, Annette Evins, was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property and running an illegal scrap metal business. Both were cited and released, according to The Press Democrat.
Copper thefts have jumped across California in recent years, often zeroing in on telephone and utility lines and causing service outages that can threaten public safety. According to the California Department of Justice, the telecom industry recorded nearly 6,000 copper theft incidents nationwide from June through December 2024, with roughly one-third of those in California. Sonoma County investigators say the pattern of targeted local thefts tracks that statewide trend.
How investigators say the case came together
The investigation began after deputies responded to a report of stolen copper on August 18, 2025, on the 7000 block of Highway 116 near Cotati. Weeks later, on September 11, 2025, surveillance cameras captured a large theft at the same location. Authorities say a community member then reported a suspicious vehicle and passed along a license plate number, which helped detectives link the vehicle to multiple incidents. Images and prior law enforcement contacts with that vehicle connected it to Salido, and detectives arrested him on September 25, 2025. Sgt. Juan Valencia urged residents to stay alert and report suspicious activity, and the sheriff's office said detectives recovered additional evidence while serving warrants at the Leddy Avenue locations, according to The Press Democrat.
What officials want residents to know
Authorities say the investigation drew help from Pacific Gas & Electric, the Santa Rosa Fire Department and city code enforcement, a reminder that copper thefts can quickly turn into multiagency headaches. Law enforcement officials continue to urge residents and businesses to report late-night activity around utility poles or anyone hauling unusually large amounts of metal, and to refuse to buy or sell suspicious materials without proper identification and documentation, guidance that is echoed by the California Department of Justice. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office's tip line.
Legal consequences
Salido is facing multiple felony counts that could carry significant penalties if prosecutors move forward with formal charges and secure convictions. Evins faces possible charges related to receiving stolen property and operating an illegal scrap business. Prosecutors still need to review surveillance footage, scrapyard records and the items seized during the searches before deciding on any additional charges, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities have not said whether they expect more arrests as the investigation continues.
