Politics & Government

Fast Acting Employees Use Truck to Trap Suspected Thief

Benicia Police arrest suspected metal thieves in two separate incidents at the same Benicia Industrial Park business.

Benicia police arrested two people, a 47-year-old Vacaville man and a 44-year-old Fairfield woman in separate incidents at a Benicia Industrial Park business Wednesday afternoon and early Thursday morning.

The man, Edward Spencer is suspected of trying to steal scrap metal from a storage yard in the 900 block of Teal Drive. used by . 

Pacific Rim employees saw Spencer’s white van at about 1:30 pm, inside the yard on Teal Drive. They also noted the padlock securing the two large metal arms for the gate system into the business yard had been forced open.

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The employees used their big rig truck to block the yard exit and trap Spencer and his van inside while they called police.  When police arrived they saw Spencer trying to unload his vehicle.  He was arrested without incident and booked into county jail.

Ironically, at about the time officers were taking Spencer into custody, a Realtor specializing in Benicia Industrial Park properties was talking about security in the industrial park.  The Realtor, Brooks Pedder of Colliers International, told a group gathered to talk about economic development in the Benicia Industrial Park said that the low crime rate and fast response times by Benicia Police are a draw for businesses relocating to Benicia and for retaining existing business.

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Robinson was arrested at the Pacific Rim Recycling main yard in the 3600 block of Sprig Drive, also in the Benicia Industrial Park.  Robinson was arrested around 3:30 a.m. Thursday morning after another Pacific Rim employee saw her car and grew suspicious because they didn’t recognize the vehicle.

"These two cases illustrate the importance of being aware of your surroundings and knowing activity and individuals that belong in an area and those that do not," Benicia Police Sergeant John Daley said. Sgt. Daley and other officers responded to the first incident, resulting in Spencer's arrest. "Benicia residents and those who work in Benicia are very keen when it comes to recognizing suspicious activity and reporting that activity to police. If activity anywhere in the City of Benicia draws your suspicion and might be criminal in nature you are encouraged to call the Benicia Police Department immediately."


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