(Mesquite, NV) – The Mesquite Police Department has arrested four Las Vegas men and charged them with grand larceny and possession of burglary tools. The men are Jose R. Mendez-Soto, 28; Pedro A. Martinez, 32; Juan A. Hernandez-Romero, 34 and Jose G. Ramirez-Garcia, 37 who are charged with stealing copper wire from light poles in Mesquite, according to MPD public information officer Robert W. Everett. The suspects were booked into the Mesquite Detention Facility and later transported to the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas where they are being held. Also, KCSG News has learned that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a hold on the suspects. Three of the four are illegal Mexican nationals and have multiple aliases.

An alert security guard at Mesa View Hospital observed three suspicious men walking behind the hospital and called the police, Everett said. Three suspects were located and were being questioned when officers discovered the copper wire missing from street light poles at a construction site near the hospital. Upon further investigation, a fourth suspect who had dropped off the three, was also arrested, he said. The copper wire valued at $23,000 had been bundled and hidden by the suspects waiting for pick-up.

Mesquite Police Chief Doug Law said, “Because of an alert citizen and the quick response of our officers to the location, we were able to retrieve the stolen wire and make the arrests of the alleged perpetrators.”

“We ask citizens to be our eyes and ears and the hospital security guard did exactly what we ask; he observed something suspicious in the area and notified police immediately,” said Everett. The police department telephone number is (702) 346-5262.