3 Men Arrested for Industrial Park Theft

Early Monday morning, March 28,  while on routine patrol in the Benicia Industrtial Park, Patrol Officer Kirk Keffer noticed three men loading metal pipe into the back of a rented truck in the 400 block of West Channel Rd.

The men ran away as Officer Keffer approached but were later apprehended after jumping a chain link fence.

The men were arrested after it was determined they were not associated with the business from which the pipe was taken.

Police noted more pipe stacked next to the suspect’s vehicle ready to be loaded.

The owner of the business valued the pipe at $11, 500.

"Many businesses and government locations in surrounding cities, including ours, have been victimized by the rise in metal and copper thefts," Benicia Police Lt. Mike Daley said.

“As with this case, metal thieves strike in isolated areas late at night when there are no potential witnesses or business owners or employees are not around,” said Daley.   “Our officers do a good job patrolling our Industrial Park, which is evident by this arrest."

“This is outstanding work by a very alert officer,” said Daley.

Booked into the Solano County Jail for felony grand theft and conspiracy were, Vallejo resident Darrell Bassett, Benicia resident Jamal Block and Vallejo resident Tayoba Richards.