Fremont police on Tuesday were searching for thieves who over the weekend stole a forklift from an auto dealership, drove up the road to a PG&E facility and made off with more than 5,000 pounds of copper wiring.

Police said thieves have struck the PG&E st0rage yard on Boyce Road twice during the past two months. The most recent theft happened Sunday morning at around 7 a.m.

Lt. Fred Bobbit called it a bold and well thought out plan.

"They took the time and was able to operate that forklift to remove that large reel of copper and then lower it onto a flatbed, which we eventually found out was stolen," Bobbit said.

Three hours later, surveillance cameras captured images of another truck . Police said that vehicle was used to pick up one of the thieves in Hayward.

Investigators were focusing on finding the truck's owner.

The stolen copper wire is valued at more than $25,000. Police said the thieves knew what type of tool to use to remove the insulation.

Another theft in January was carried out the same way.

"We don't have information that can tell us it's the same crew, but something like this is planned out," said Bobbit. "This isn't your everyday case."

PG&E told KTVU copper thefts are an ongoing problem. A spokesperson said there have been more than 100 cases of copper theft in each of the past two years.

Investigators said it was a witness in the area who saw the theft in progress and called police. The witness described one thief as a white man in his thirties.

Nearby business owner Chris Luu said police came to ask for surveillance camera footage.

"I hope they get caught so we don't have to worry about theft so much in the Bay Area," said Luu.

Police hope that increasing public awareness about the crime will lead to more tips that might help authorities catch the thieves.