Caltrain copper theft suspect caught in San Mateo County

A person suspected of stealing copper from Caltrain tracks in South San Francisco has been arrested.

Officials with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and volunteer pilots operating the Sheriff’s Office airplane were monitoring Caltrain tracks in the early morning Sunday when they spotted someone working to remove cable from train tracks in South San Francisco.

Working in a collaborative effort with the South San Francisco Police Department, deputies from took the suspect — a 24-year-old man — into custody. He is suspected of removing approximately 50 feet of cable from beneath the Caltrain tracks.

The cable was later recovered by deputies. However, the theft did cause an estimated $5,000 in damage.

“The arrest highlights the effective use of technology and resources, including the Sheriff’s Office airplane, to detect crimes in progress,” sheriff’s officials said in the release.

The suspect was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City on suspicion of grand theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy, tampering with a railroad and trespassing at a railroad facility.