Copper Theft and Vandalism Cause Estimated $260,000 in Damage at Steele Lane Elementary School 

On October 14, 2026, at approximately 10:46 a.m., officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) responded to Steele Lane Elementary School, located at 301 Steele Lane, after receiving a report of a burglary. Steele Lane Elementary School is a Santa Rosa City Schools (SRCS) campus that has been closed since June 2026. 

School representatives reported that at approximately 8:55 a.m., staff members arrived on campus and encountered three individuals inside the school grounds. The individuals were directed to leave the campus and complied. While inspecting the property, staff discovered extensive damage consistent with copper wire theft and later observed the same suspects leaving the area with containers possibly holding the stolen copper wire. 

Officers discovered extensive damage throughout the campus. In one classroom building, electrical systems had been heavily damaged after suspects cut electrical lines and stripped copper wiring from multiple panels.  In total, approximately 5,000 feet of copper wire is believed to have been stolen from the campus. Damage to that building alone is estimated at approximately $100,000. 

Additional damage was found at the school's main office building, where electrical wiring and copper components were removed from rooftop systems and air conditioning units. Damage to the office complex is estimated at approximately $150,000. 

Officers also discovered significant vandalism inside the school's library. Books, furniture, and electronic equipment, including a television and printer, were destroyed, and a door had been forcibly opened. The damage to the library is estimated at approximately $10,000.  

Due to the extensive damage to the school, the SRPD Property Crimes Investigations Team (PCI) has assumed the investigation. At this time, detectives have not determined whether the vandalism is related to the copper theft.

The suspects were described as two adult females and one adult male in a wheelchair. When they were seen leaving the campus, one of the women was pushing the wheelchair while the other was riding a bicycle. No additional information about their physical appearance was available at the time of this release, and detectives are actively working to obtain photographs of the suspects. Area residents and business owners are encouraged to review their home and commercial security camera systems, including doorbell video, for any recordings relevant to this investigation. 

Anyone with information about this incident or the identity of the suspects is encouraged to contact the SRPD Property Crimes Investigations Team tip line at 707-543-3575 or submit tips anonymously online at www.srcity.org/CrimeTips. 

A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered by the Business Alliance of Sonoma County Community Engagement and Safety Rewards Fund for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspects involved in this incident.  

Santa Rosa Police Department case number 26-11417. 

Media inquiries can be directed to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.