A 31-year-old Perris man was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the theft and vandalism of fiber optic cables that occurred on July 15.
At approximately 9:56 a.m. on the day of the incident, deputies assigned to the Perris Sheriff’s Station responded to the area of Nuevo Road and Pico Avenue following a report of a grand theft. The reporting party advised that internet and fiber optic cables had been damaged and stolen, causing internet outages for local residents and multiple public safety locations in the area.
The estimated cost of the theft and the associated damage is approximately $25,000, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
On July 23, another theft attempt was reported near Lakeview Avenue and 11th Street in Nuevo. Investigators were able to identify a vehicle associated with the attempted theft.
On July 29, an additional theft of cable was reported near Highway 74 and Theda Street in Good Hope, where approximately $5,000 of fiber optic cable was stolen.
On July 30, deputies located the suspect vehicle in the 22000 block of Alviso Road in Perris and conducted a traffic stop. A large amount of wire consistent with the thefts was located. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Jordani De La Rosa-Vasquez of Perris, was taken into custody.
A search warrant was served in the 22000 block of Alviso Road, where evidence of the thefts was located, connecting De La Rosa-Vasquez to the prior reported incidents, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
De La Rosa-Vasquez was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, felony vandalism, and felony damage to utility lines.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Investigator Barbee at the Perris Sheriff’s Station at 951-210-1000.
