Railroad Worker Stops Man Believed To Be Stealing Copper Wire A Union Pacific Railroad employee stopped a man from stealing copper wire used to control railway switches near Gilroy, California on Friday, Santa Clara County Sheriff's deputies said today. The railroad maintenance worker reportedly spotted a man on a Highway 101 frontage road with a 25-foot coil of copper wire laying near a pickup truck parked along Union Pacific tracks. Thefts of the wire have become increasingly common since this summer, as scofflaws realized its increased value to recyclers who buy it as scrap. After using his work truck to block the man, Frank Manzanedo, 49, of San Jose, from leaving, the worker called 911, Palanov said. When deputies arrived, California Highway Patrol officers already had Manzanedo cuffed and in the back of a patrol car, Palanov said. Deputies said they found another 2,800 feet of copper wire that they believe Manzanedo had cut from the site in his truck. They also found wire cutters and other tools in truck, Palanov said. They took Manzanedo to Santa Clara County Jail where he was booked on suspicion of grand theft, possession of burglary tools and possession of stolen property. - Leslie Griffy, The San Jose Mercury News
