In collaboration with Farm Watch, the Fillmore Investigations Bureau communicated crime trends identified from recent agricultural thefts occurring in the Santa Clara Valley. Empowering the agricultural community as our eyes and ears has contributed to the identification and apprehension of a repeat offender of agricultural thefts.
On April 15th, 2024, deputies assigned to the Fillmore Patrol Station responded to a call-for-service at a local farm reference an attempted theft of avocados. Patrol deputies were informed that a large quantity of avocados pre-staged in bags and crates was located on the farm. The farm owner stated this was suspicious and inconsistent with the normal operation of the farm. The farm owner’s diligence and education of previous crime trends, as well as quick notification to law enforcement, prevented thieves from completing the theft of the pre-staged avocados. The patrol deputy was able to collect evidence relating to the crime and authored a crime report.
On April 24th, 2024, deputies assigned to the Fillmore Patrol Station contacted Jose Antonio Rosales Hernandez in the 100 block of A Street, Fillmore. Based on previous law enforcement contacts, patrol deputies knew Hernandez had previously been convicted of Penal Code § 487(b)(1)(A) – Grand Theft of Vegetables and Fruit. Hernandez was placed on Ventura County Probation and accepted probation terms requiring him to submit to search of his person, residence, vehicle, or any property under his control by a probation officer of law enforcement officer, with or without a search warrant, for items prohibited by his probation conditions.
During the contact, patrol deputies conducted a search of Hernandez’ person, vehicle, and residence in compliance with Hernandez’ court appointed probation conditions. During the search, patrol deputies found methamphetamine, collected additional evidence, and developed probable cause to connect him to the attempted theft from the local farm on April 15th, 2024. As a result of the contact, Hernandez was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Main Jail for being in violation of Health & Safety Code § 11377 (a) – Possession of a Controlled Substance and Penal Code § 664/487(b)(1)(A) – Attempted Grand Theft of Vegetables and Fruit.
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.
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