Two Cedar Hill Men Jailed for Copper Wire Theft in Jefferson County

Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - Two Cedar Hill men are behind bars in the Jefferson County Jail after being charged with Receiving Stolen Property in connection to a copper wire theft.

Authorities arrested 27-year-old Preston Jones and 44-year-old Ryan Smith following a traffic stop around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, March 10. A Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy observed a large amount of copper wire in the open trunk of their vehicle. Investigators later determined the wire had been stolen from an AT&T truck, with evidence suggesting Jones and Smith worked together to cut it from a spool.

Jones is being held without bond, while Smith’s bond was set at $75,000 cash-only.

Law enforcement officials say copper wire theft has been a growing problem in Jefferson County, causing widespread communication disruptions and, in some cases, dangerous situations.