Police: San Jacinto Duo Jailed For Stealing Fire Hydrants, Backflow Meters

A man and woman were behind bars in Banning Friday following their arrests in San Jacinto in connection with the theft of hundreds of pounds of metal, including fire hydrants and parts from water meters, authorities said.

John Joseph Shaw, 49, and Antonette Marie Rodriguez, 47, both of San Jacinto, were arrested after deputies noticed the hydrants while conducting a parole search around 10 a.m. Thursday at a residence in the 200 block of Lori Ann Street, said Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Joey Nardone.

According to Nardone, the following items were found during a search of the residence:

• approximately 600 lbs. of metals
• three fire hydrants
• parts of several backflow meters
• more than 200 duplicated pre-paid gift cards

In addition to all the stolen items purportedly found, the two were found to be in possession of methamphetamine, according to Nardone.

The discovery followed reports over the past several weeks of multiple thefts of metal, hydrants and backflow meters in San Jacinto, Nardone said.

Stolen metal is often sold to recyclers. It was not immediately clear what fate had awaited the recovered items.

Both Shaw and Rodriguez were booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of possession of stolen property, grand theft and possession of methamphetamine, Nardone said. Shaw was also booked on suspicion of parole violations, he said.

Shaw was being held without bail since he's on parole, and Rodriguez was jailed in lieu of $15,000 bail, according to sheriff's online jail records. Both were due in court on Monday at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

—City News Service contributed to this report.