School District Police Arrest Two in School Metal Thefts

Months of investigation by San Bernardino City Unified School District Police officers resulted in the April 8 arrest of two men suspected of stealing copper coils from air conditioning units at several schools. While on patrol in the city’s north end Tuesday, April 8, a District Police officer first spotted a U-Haul truck near Kendall Elementary School that was reportedly used in the theft of copper coils from SOAR Charter Academy on Mill Street earlier that day. With assistance from the San Bernardino Police Department, officers attempted to stop the rental truck, which led police on a high-speed pursuit that ended when the truck collided with a parked car on State Street at about 8:18 a.m. No injuries were reported. Fred Gene Owens of San Bernardino and Vazshon Dumar Durant of Rialto were arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property, vandalism, and resisting arrest, among other charges. District Police previously arrested Owens on similar charges related to other air conditioning thefts. District Police is asking for the public’s assistance in connecting Owens, Durant, or other individuals who may have taken part in other recent thefts of copper coils from several schools, including Hillside and Salinas Elementary Schools and Arroyo Valley High School. The thefts have resulted in losses estimated at more than $100,000. Besides the financial loss, student learning is impacted when air conditioning is not working properly, said District Police Chief Joseph Paulino. “We take these crimes very seriously because they can potentially disrupt the quality learning environment that allows students to excel,” Paulino said. “When criminals steal from our schools, they’re stealing from our students, too.” District police ask anyone with information about the rash of air conditioning thefts to contact them at 909-889-6833.