As copper wire theft reaches new highs, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office isn’t using a county ordinance to help law enforcement stop thieves.

Meanwhile within city limits, City Attorney Andrew Janz has moved forward with what was a joint effort by his office, the sheriff’s department, county supervisors, county counsel, city council, and the Fresno Police Department. Under the city ordinance, which matches the county’s, the city attorney’s office can prosecute suspected copper thieves.

District Attorney spokesperson Taylor Long told GV Wire that while prosecutors do use state law against copper thieves, the office is awaiting guidance from California Attorney General Rob Bonta about the city and county rules, which require people who are found with more than 10 pounds of copper wire to prove ownership.

“We have requested guidance from the California Attorney General’s Office to determine whether the ordinance is preempted by state law,” Long said. “Until that question is resolved, we are not filing cases under the (county) ordinance to ensure any charges we bring are legally sound and not subject to dismissal.”

Janz, however, says Bonta has been a strong partner, pushing a statewide effort to combat copper wire theft and encouraging state and local authorities to coordinate to tackle the multimillion-dollar problem.

Janz says it’s too soon to tell how successful the city ordinance has been, but it’s been put to use.

“We currently have five active prosecutions and multiple cases currently pending investigation,” Janz told GV Wire.

Bonta’s office did not respond to GV Wire’s requests for comment.

City, County Introduce Joint Effort to Target Copper Theft

In April 2025, the Fresno City Council, Fresno County Supervisors, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, and the Fresno County Farm Bureau joined together to create new rules to help prosecute copper theft.

The problem with prosecuting under state law, Janz said, is that possession of copper wire isn’t a crime unless law enforcement can prove the wire was stolen — even if it appears obvious to law enforcement. Additionally, copper wire needs to be worth a certain value to be prosecuted under grand theft.

The dual ordinances changed that by targeting people who transport or possess more than 10 pounds of copper wire without proof of ownership.

Sgt. Fred Henson, who leads the sheriff’s Ag Task Force, said the city ordinance has “100%” been successful. He said deputies use it regularly in conjunction with the city attorney’s office.

“With the ordinance in place, we can put a hold on their wire, and they have to show a certain credential to recycle so much,” Henson said.

The district attorney still prosecutes copper wire theft, but deputies need other crimes such as drugs for prosecutions to proceed, he said.

Supervisors Board Chair Garry Bredefeld said he’s spoken with deputies about the increases in thefts.

“It is very troubling to me that it is increasing. I did speak to the deputy sheriffs and they told me that it was increasing on the solar farms, and that’s very troubling,” Bredefeld said. “But the decision whether or not to prosecute is entirely up to the district attorney.”

Smittcamp Says Bonta Might Dismiss. Janz Disagrees

Shortly before councilmembers and supervisors announced the ordinances, Smittcamp sent a letter to the joint body saying she would not prosecute under the county ordinance because Bonta could overturn those convictions.

The letter caused disagreement among supervisors when it came out. But ultimately the letter did not sway the supervisors and councilmembers from unanimously approving the ordinances.

In a response to GV Wire, Long said copper wire theft can be prosecuted under several state laws, including grand theft, which applies when the value exceeds $950. Prosecutors also can also charge vandalism.

“State law provides a range of tools to prosecute this conduct, and we actively use those statutes,” Long said.

Janz, however, said Bonta has been cooperative with the local effort. Two months after the city and county announced the ordinances, Bonta came out with his own directive to tackle copper theft.

“When I informed the attorney general of the (city’s) ordinance’s passage he committed, as he has publicly in multiple press statements, that this should be a multi-jurisdictional effort,” Janz told GV Wire. “None of our prosecutions or investigations have been challenged. This should be a team effort amongst law enforcement, and we should all pitch in to help victims, businesses, and farmers.”

Farmers, Mark Your Copper: Henson

Henson said reported copper thefts have spiked in the past three weeks, especially following the jump in recycling prices. Since April 17, sheriff’s deputies have had reports of four pumps from different farmers stripped and one solar farm vandalized. Solar farms especially have been major targets, he said.

Hundreds of dollars’ worth of copper stolen often results in tens of thousands of dollars in damage, Henson said.

“The solar thefts are up, ag pumps are up, and it’s not just thievery of the wire, it’s the damage that they’re doing to steal the wire,” Henson said. “It’s costing the farmers millions of dollars, not each one, but throughout the year, they do millions of dollars of damage.”

He said marking copper helps identify stolen material. Some will put a mark every three feet and that’s enough for law enforcement to know it’s been stolen.

Copper theft trends can vary across the county, Henson said. If law enforcement can arrest and prosecute a crew, he’ll notice decreases.

They work closely with metal yards to make sure recyclers aren’t buying stolen material.

Don Plaster, owner of Skee’s Recycling in Fresno, says a lot of people don’t bother trying to sell to him because he enforces the three-day waiting period, requiring ID and thumbprints.

Even if they give it to someone else to sell at his business, he can tell.

“We kind of know what the copper looks like, and we just decline it. We won’t buy stuff like that,” Plaster said.