Morgan Hill – A Morgan Hill man was arrested as Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated thefts of irrigation pipe in South County.
Roby Galbraith, 41, was booked into Santa Clara County Jail charged on suspicion of attempted grand theft, receiving stolen property and violation of probation.
Sheriff’s spokesman Serg Palanov said detectives responded Tuesday to a call about an apparent theft in progress at a farm on Monterey Highway in Morgan Hill. Someone apparently had tried to steal a trailer filled with irrigation pipe. As they investigated, deputies followed leads to the Budget Inn on Monterey Highway in Morgan Hill, where Galbraith was living.
Palanov said Galbraith is a suspect in another theft. A trailer loaded with aluminum irrigation pipe was stolen earlier in the day from a field on Monterey Highway. Galbraith allegedly took the pipe using his blue 1974 Dodge Tradesman van to tow the trailer to Sims Recycling in San Jose. Deputies believe he received several hundred dollars for the pipe, and afterwards dumped the trailer near the railroad tracks at Monterey Road and Palm Avenue north of Morgan Hill.
Palanov said investigators are looking into several other similar irrigation thefts in South County.
Those who may have been victims or have additional information to contact their detectives at 686-3660.
