Media Contact: Karl Walquist (775) 834-3891

A $1,500 reward is being offered by Secret Witness for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person or persons who have damaged power poles and stolen copper wire from an electric transmission line along the Truckee River corridor between Verdi, Nevada, and Truckee, California. 

The 60,000-volt power line is not currently in service but portions of it will eventually be re-energized to provide back-up electric service to customers in the Glenshire subdivision near Truckee, according to Chris Daley, area service manager for Sierra Pacific's North Lake Tahoe office.  In addition, portions of the transmission line support smaller voltage electric distribution lines that are currently energized. 

Daley said the thieves are risking their lives by operating around energized power lines and endangering others if their activity causes a wildland fire. In recent weeks they've caused power lines to fall onto Interstate Highway 80 and nearby railroad tracks. Their actions could also cause service interruptions for Sierra Pacific electric customers.

Anyone with information about the thefts should telephone the Secret Witness Hotline at (775) 322-4900, the Nevada County Sheriff's office at (530) 582-7842 or Sierra Pacific's Corporate Security office at (775) 834-4642. Callers will remain anonymous.

Approximately 50 electric poles have been destroyed by the thieves during the past couple of months.