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Traffic Stop Leads To Cache Of Stolen Copper

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A routine traffic stop turned into something much more when officers discovered thousands of dollars of stolen copper in the back of a van in Sacramento.  And the suspects may be connected to  multiple copper thefts.

Officers got a call around midnight reporting some suspicious activity in the area of Lathrop and Commerce Way.  When officers arrived, they spotted a minivan and pulled the driver over.

The officers discovered piles of stolen copper wire and pipe in the back of the van.

Police arrested two men, 36-year-old Richard Patino and 46-year-old Robert Wynne.

One of the business owners hit by the thieves said they did thousands of dollars in damage to his building on Commerce Circle in the process of ripping off all that copper.

Officers returned the copper back to the businesses.

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