A man suspected of stealing 55 aluminum sheets and building materials valued at $10,000 from a high school in Santa Fe Springs on Tuesday, Aug. 12, was caught the same day at a recycling center in Santa Ana.
The suspect allegedly cut the fence at Santa Fe High School at 10400 Orr and Day Road around 7:30 a.m. and entered a construction area, said Officer Emily Armstrong, spokeswoman for the Whittier Police Department.
He left with the aluminum sheets, two carts, goal posts and turf materials.
With help from the school resource officer, detectives identified the suspect as one of the employees at the construction site, police said.
Investigators found the suspect that afternoon off-loading the aluminum and building materials at a recycling center in Santa Ana.
The 41-year-old Santa Ana man was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property and grand theft, Armstrong said.
Booking records show he was being held at the Whittier police jail.
An official with Whittier Union High School District couldn’t be reached for comment.
Santa Fe Springs contracts with Whittier Police.