Two men were arrested in Pinal County on suspicion of using a hand-dug tunnel in San Manuel to make their way into a closed mine shaft to steal copper.
A Pinal County sheriff’s deputy was patrolling the area near BHP Mine on Veterans Memorial Boulevard about 7:30 p.m. Saturday night. The deputy was conducting a security check at the site when he stood by a large, hand-dug tunnel. After hearing movement inside, he called for other deputies.
About 8:30 p.m. Victor Gutierrez, 46, emerged from the tunnel. He was taken into custody at gunpoint without incident. Gutierrez denied anyone was in the tunnel with him.
However, about 20 minutes later, deputies climbed into the tunnel to find Mark Jimenez, 34, inside the tunnel and he also was taken into custody.
Officials said more than $10,000 worth of copper was removed or damaged during the incident. Deputies and property-crime detectives recovered several 30-foot long sections of copper wire, weighing about 500 pounds.
The two men admitted to stealing copper throughout the past year and selling it in Tucson after stripping or burning the plastic coating on the wire, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The two men have been booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center on suspicion of trafficking in stolen property, burglary, aggravated criminal damage and possession of burglary tools.
