Circuit breakers appear to have become one of the potential targets for thieves stealing metal and infrastructure across the state.
The Riverside County Sheriff said in a news release Wednesday that the department began investigating an increase in circuit breaker thefts in February. Last week, deputies arrested 65-year-old Eugene Popa of Perris and seized thousands of allegedly stolen circuit breakers hidden in large storage bins at two locations.
Deputies allege Popa purchased stolen circuit breakers from thieves who had stolen them from new home construction sites or retail stores. Deputies said he then attempted to resell the items online.
In recent years, thieves have stolen increasing amounts of copper, bronze and other metals from streets, buildings and construction sites, likely hoping to sell the goods as scrap. The theft plunged some streets and bridges, such as the reconstructed Sixth Street Viaduct, into darkness.
More than 100 plaques were stolen from Carson Cemetery. Fire hydrants with brass internals became such popular targets that utility companies changed their designs so thieves couldn’t easily access their bolts. Nearly a dozen century-old light poles were ripped from the ground in Pasadena.
Now, the circuit breaker seems to have caught the attention of thieves. However, the idea of buying circuit breakers that didn’t look new on the packaging troubled licensed contractor and developer Ronnie Gor.
Popa is accused of selling second-hand circuit breakers online that could be dangerous. Gore says if you repair a circuit breaker in your home, you should insist on using a new one and call a licensed electrician.
“If something goes wrong, your life could be in danger,” she said.
To prevent theft during construction, Gore said circuit breakers are often installed in homes that are nearing completion and have locks or other forms of security installed. She said her tools and other equipment were stolen from the job site, but there was no circuit breaker.
Prices for a single circuit breaker range from $7 to over $60, depending on amperage and model.
Paul Dashevsky of GreatBuildz, a website that helps connect consumers with contractors, said a circuit breaker was stolen from a home he was renovating about 10 years ago but has since This never happened again. “One day you have electrical panels,” he said, “and the next day you don’t have switches.”
He said it would cost about $400 to replace them. “Of course it’s frustrating,” he said, but the loss doesn’t break the bank.
