dailyloe.com – Genaro Jesus Rivera Jr., 39, has been arrested for allegedly stealing copper from a CPS Energy facility, resulting in over $3,000 in damages. The incident occurred on February 5, 2026, at the utility’s location on Old Corpus Christi Highway. Rivera faces charges of theft of material, criminal mischief, and damage to critical infrastructure.
A CPS Energy investigator informed a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) special agent about the theft. The investigator provided an incident report and surveillance video related to the crime. San Antonio police had previously contacted Rivera on the morning of the theft, prompting the request for bodycam footage of that interaction.
Court documents indicate that Rivera was found with red bolt cutters and cut copper wire cables. He wore the same clothes seen in the surveillance footage during the theft. The video showed Rivera cutting the copper wire and later jumping over a security fence.
The estimated damages caused by Rivera amounted to $3,068, which included overhead costs and necessary repairs. He has been booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center with a bond set at $90,000 for the three charges. KSAT has reached out to CPS Energy for comment but has not received a response.
