Two men are accused of running a construction theft operation that investigators say involved hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen materials.

Rodrin Alexis Garcia Rivera, 31, and Pedro Lozano Moreno, 68, were arrested this week and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and theft.

Sheriff Javier Salazar said the case is part of a broader pattern of construction thefts across the area, with losses in this investigation alone exceeding $250,000. He added that authorities expect additional arrests.

Thieves in such cases are going after circuit breakers, which control electricity that goes into a home, and wiring. 

“Thieves will come through and they’ll wipe out the whole neighborhood,” the sheriff said. “They’ll go in and cut the wires, steal all the breakers and next thing you know this construction company is out several thousand dollars in materials.”

Deputies searched a storage unit tied to the investigation and found large quantities of electrical materials, including about 1,000 circuit breakers and breaker panels, authorities said. Investigators also recovered roughly 800 bundles of Romex copper wiring, each valued at more than $100.

Deputies also seized vehicles that investigators believe were purchased through the alleged criminal enterprise and used to carry out the thefts.

Salazar said contractors and property owners can reduce their risk by limiting how long materials sit unsecured at job sites or homes.

“People have to make sure they’re protecting their materials. The longer the materials are sitting in the garage and not installed is taking a chance at having them stolen,” the sheriff said. “Keep them in locked boxes or don’t have them delivered until the day of install.”

He encouraged people to have lights and security cameras guarding a construction site, which can help investigators identify a license plate should there be a theft. 

Investigators say construction theft cases continue to rise, and the sheriff described this case as likely “a drop in the puddle” compared to the broader scope of thefts in the region.