Thieves Steal Border Fence for Scrap: Cops
Six men busted in Tijuana for allegedly stealing border fence
By ERIC S. PAGE
Updated 10:50 AM PDT, Thu, Aug 27, 2009
Mexicans are still being arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border, but not for what you think.
Six men were arrested for stealing pieces of the U.S. border fence to sell as scrap metal, according to Tijuana police.
Holes in the border fence once were more commonly made by migrant smugglers, but fewer people are trying to cross because of a weak U.S. economy and a crackdown on immigration.
The Tijuana police department said the suspects intended to sell the steel sheeting as scrap.
The first two men caught cutting into the fence on Monday. An alleged accomplice was detained Tuesday with 11 pieces of fencing. The U.S. Border Patrol alerted police to three more suspects.
Police said Wednesday in a statement that the men may face federal charges because the fence area is considered federal property.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Los Angeles
First Published: Aug 27, 2009 10:28 AM PDT on NBC San Diego
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