FRESNO - The Fresno City College West Fresno Campus suffered a significant amount of copper wire theft in recent weeks, causing thousands of dollars in damage and impacting parking lot lighting as well as lighting alongside walking trails and bike paths.

The State Center Community College District (SCCCD) Police Department developed a plan to catch and arrest the perpetrator(s), which resulted in an arrest on Friday, Feb. 9.

SCCCD Sergeants Glenn Gardner and Michael Allison developed the operation, assisted by officers and dispatchers. A team from the SCCCD Police Department went undercover on the campus at night, aided by the use of a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) device, which senses infrared radiation and heat sources, allowing them to observe movement on campus in the dark.

The FLIR device helped officers identify a suspect who was observed committing copper wire theft on the north end of campus. The suspect was arrested as he attempted to flee the scene and is identified as Joshua Ray Deen. Officers found a large amount of copper wire and burglary tools inside a duffel bag that the suspect attempted to discard.

The suspect was booked into the Fresno County jail on numerous charges. Officers also charged Deen with prior thefts as they collected evidence implicating him.

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