Good afternoon Farm Watch,
It has been a busy past few weeks. The holidays kept everyone busy. We welcome to our newest 3 members. As a reminder, we put out Farm Watch about every two weeks. We want you to read it and don't want to bombard you with so much info, you hit the famous "delete" button...
With Farm Watch, you get up-to-date information and a connection with over 300 other members who share your love for a rural lifestyle, agriculture and or oil production
Bardsdale:
On the 4th of July we did have our Bardsdale Burglar strike again on Bardsdale Avenue. This is the same burglar that has struck two times prior. Neighbors observed him at nighttime, breaking into a farm garage. When confronted, he fled in a small white compact car. It was dark out and difficult to identify him. However, we know it is an adult male. Our detectives are working hard on this case, we need to stop him!
This criminal knows the area and our rural habits. It is important for you to keep calling in suspicious activity. In any emergency or break in, always call 911. If you feel maybe it is a weak tip or just a hunch and don’t want to call the station, you can text me at 805-947-8189 or email the tip at tim.hagel@ventura.org Trust me, with a teenager in my house, I have joined the texting world and can actually navigate through the cell phone (at least this model).
Vandals:
Last week, we were hit heavy with graffiti in the Piru area. Seems that four local teens decided to cover the town with spray paint. The community was in an uproar. By mid morning, we had four tips sent to “Farm Watch.” By late afternoon, deputies arrested all four suspects based on the tips.
This is how we all stick together, remember…There are way more of us caring farm watch and community members then these few thugs.
If that was not enough community spirit for you….
Responding to the vandals, Piru's “Making a Difference” (MAD) sprung into action. MAD is a grass roots, Piru youth organization that want to sustain and grow up in a pleasant rural community.
The youth fulfill their goal for a safe, peaceful and united community by keeping kids out of trouble and active both in activities and education. The MAD group mobilized and repainted the town within hours.
They would like to thank the Piru Packing House for their support. I have attached a few photos of their work in helping us out.
Connex Box Burglars:
Last week, late night burglars hit the City of Fillmore Water Treatment plant and a nearby local Santa Clara River farm operation. The suspects used bolt cutters to cut off the locks on the storage containers and take out both construction and farm equipment. Burglars love these 20 and 40-foot shipping storage containers because they know that they are always filled with generators, welders, pumps, chemicals and tractors. Try to fortify your lock system. Some of our nursery operations have done a super job of hardening the lock systems.
Fruitless Facts:
Timber Canyon has had some avocado thieves working the area. They hike in on foot and then load up the trunks of waiting cars. Keep an eye out for a local suspect in a Honda Accord # 6AMH614.
A Santa Paula farmer recently found a hidden path cut through a rugged chaparral hillside that adjoins his orchard. The thieves were accessing on foot in the back area to the avocado orchard and were select picking. They can be crafty and take as little as 20 to 30 pounds a day for extra money.
Piru Lake
ATT and Verizon are steaming ahead in the planning process of installing cell sites in Piru Canyon. These sites will really help with safety in that area.
Santa Paula Canyon
Cal Trans has finished the work near our trail parking areas in front of Thomas Aquinas. As you recall, we have anti-theft signs posted on the south parking areas.
Now that the north parking area was just opened, we have had cars burglarized in that lot. We will install the same education signs that are so effective on the south lot (no burgs).
Remember never leave personal effects such as phones, wallets, cameras, bags etc… in view or even covered up in the cab of your truck or car. Lock them up in the trunk or tool box.
Be safe and have a great summer.
