MADERA COUNTY – Daniel Keith McGrew, 42, of Madera, is behind bars after selling nearly a half-dozen stolen steel beams to a recycling shop, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.McGrew, who lists his profession as masonry, was arrested just two hours after deputies were first alerted to the theft.
According to reports, Madera Irrigation District reported the crime at around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24. A ditch tender reported at least 4 beams missing from a creek gate located in Cotton Creek, just east of Road 25.
Less than two hours later, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that at least one of the missing beams had showed up at a recycling shop, roughly four miles away on Road 29 near Avenue 12.
Detective Adam McEwen was given the name and description of the suspect, who was identified as Daniel McGrew, according to a news release.
It didn’t take the detective long to locate McGrew; he pulled him over not far from where the sale was made.
McEwen would later recover the other missing beams.
McGrew is suspected of selling nearly 500 pounds of stolen steel, which earned him a mere $43.20. But it will cost Madera Irrigation District at least $1,000 to fix the damage caused by the theft.
Daniel McGrew remains in jail, with bail set at $10,000. The case is under investigation.
