January 27, 2025 – Kern County Sheriff's Office officials report that on January 23, 2025, Deputies from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Taft Substation were dispatched to the area of Highway 166 and Old River Road regarding a copper wire theft that had just occurred in an orchard. A brown Chevrolet Blazer was seen leaving the orchard with copper wire hanging out of the window. Occupants of the vehicle began throwing tools and other items at a witness as they fled the area. Deputies were able to locate the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop near the 99 Freeway and Houghton Road. The occupants of the vehicle, Andrew Smith (27), and Jimmie Beck (54), both from Tupman, were arrested.

Due to the amount of copper wire thefts across Kern County, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crime Investigations Unit conducted follow-up on the investigation. Investigators were able to obtain evidence showing Smith was involved in several other copper wire thefts within the last couple months.

Smith and Beck were arrested and booked at the Kern County Inmate Reception Center for Penal Code 212.5- Robbery, Penal Code 487J- Theft of copper wire, Penal Code 182(A)(1)- Conspiracy, and Penal Code 466- Possession of burglary tools. 

Anyone with information regarding these investigations is encouraged to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3110 or Secret Witness at (661) 322-4040.

Source: Kern County Sheriff's Office