Community
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Community Awareness of Agricultural Theft Trends
Nature of Incident: | Community Awareness of Agricultural Theft Trends |
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Location: | Agricultural Areas of Fillmore and Santa Paula, Ca. | ||
Date & Time: | April 24, 2024 | ||
Unit(s) Responsible: | Fillmore Investigations Bureau |
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Narrative: |
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The Fillmore Investigations Bureau, in partnership with the agricultural community, has noticed trends regarding thefts of avocados and other agricultural equipment in the areas of Fillmore and Santa Paula, California. In several recent cases, agricultural thieves have staged large quantities of illegally picked avocados in bags, crates, and other containers within the orchard in an apparent attempt to steal the avocados at a later time. Thankfully, vigilant ranch owners, and their employees, have promptly reported these incidents to law enforcement and prevented the suspect(s) from completing the thefts. In other recent cases, thieves have been observed driving their vehicles onto the victims’ property, stealing large quantities of crops, and quickly fleeing the area upon being discovered by employees. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is committed to being present and available for the communities we serve. In addition to vigilantly patrolling our agricultural areas, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to provide the community with the following crime prevention tips:
The Fillmore Patrol Station encourages the agricultural community to utilize “Farm Watch,” a partnership between the farming community and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Farm Watch is a county-wide electronic neighborhood watch program that is distributed to more than several hundred farms, ranches, nurseries, and supply houses. This program provides information to ranchers on agriculture crime trends and on how to react and treat the crime scene so that potential evidence is preserved for immediate processing by deputies of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Fillmore Police Department are committed to increasing and strengthening community partnerships and utilizing technologies and evidence-based practices to enhance collaborative efforts at reducing crime and improving public safety of all residents by continued community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @ VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @fillmoresheriff, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories. |
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Prepared by: | Detective John Grunhold | ||
News Release Date: | April 24th, 2024 | ||
Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective John Grunhold (805) 477-7011 Detective Dustin Heersche (805) 477-7012 Detective DeLaCerda, Major Crimes Bureau-Agricultural Crimes Unit (805) 384-4724 |
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Approved by: | Captain Eduardo Malagon, Fillmore Police Chief | ||
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511