Good evening Farm Watch.

We want to welcome our 6 new members.

Farm Watch is preserving public safety in our rural communities by partnering your Sheriff Deputies in the field with local ranchers,farmers, nurseries, oil production and supply houses.

Your help makes a difference.

Attempt to Locate:

Usually, we would send out a Watch Alert to you asking for help locating a theft suspect. This week is different. An official "thanks" to a West Santa Paula Avocado Farmer and longtime Watch Member who used his cell phone camera to snap a photo of an elusive farm theft suspect.

The Farm Watch member emailed us the photo and in 4 hours it was sent to all the deputies in the Santa Clara River Valley.

Deputy Tom Brown picked up on the photo and began searching the Santa Paula area for subjects matching the description. Brown found a pedestrian about 5 miles away that was wearing a similar and unique jacket.

Deputy Brown did great police work and verified that the male was our suspect. Turns out that our 'mystery suspect" is a convicted probationer who has many priors for farm theft.

Without Farm Watch and it's quick thinking Santa Paula member, we would have never caught the suspect. This is how we roll at Farm Watch!

We think our suspect has hit more farms and ranches in West Santa Paula. If you have had have an unreported theft of small farm equipment, batteries, bag loads of fruit, generators etc.. Please email me at tim.hagel@ventura.org

Lotto:

We just had a migrant worker victimized in a lotto scam for $9,000. It is a classic scam.

The suspect walks up to migrant workers at Laundromats, Hispanic markets etc...

The suspect(s) use a ruse and tell the victim they just won the State Lottery. However, they can't cash it in because they are not U.S citizens.

They ask the victim if they know an immigration attorney to help. Unknown by the victim, the suspect has a co-conspirator that passes by and acts unrelated. The new co-suspect then says "I know an attorney." Both suspects throw a wrench into it and say they don't have the money for an attorney.

The suspects tell the victim that they will split the lottery (that is fake) winnings 50/50 with the migrant worker victim if the victim can get the $10,000 cash, "that day for an attorney."

Needless to say, victim stands to make $10,000 by posting the needed $10,000 to an attorney.

You know the end of the story. The attorney does not exist. The victim gives the suspects the money, they leave together for the attorney office and the victim stands outside of a pre picked building, the suspects flee in a silver Ford Focus.

Can you say: Life savings vaporizes.

This is a sick act of theft.

How can you help? Tell the story to your farm, ranch and rural workers. Ask them to educate others.

Teach them the police officer smell test: If it smells too good to be true, it usually is...Too Good To Be True!

Lions:

We have a family of mountain lions that have been hanging out on East Guiberson. No threats or issues.

Beach Bandits:

We have had some vehicle burglaries on the north coast of Ventura County. Our Sheriff's Detectives in that area have asked Farm Watch for help. FYI...Both victim's had their credit card used in Fillmore later that day.

Help us solve it:
Here is your clue of the day:
The suspect is described as a Hispanic female, about 21 years, 5'5", med. build, light skin, shoulder length brown hair. She has skull tattoo with a bow on right inside forearm. Tattoo with a name (unknown name) on inside of her left forearm. She has been seen in a 1994 Acura Integra.

Brush Fire and Evacuation Help Needed:

Farm Watch member Monica Nolan is the Director of Animal Control. I have known Monica for years. She loves our rural areas. Moncia has asked that we find members to help during disasters.

Here is her info:

Since 1985, the Ventura County Department of Animal Regulation (VCAR) brought together a number of horse owners, ranchers, farmers, enthusiasts and experts to form a volunteer large animal rescue group subsequently known as Emergency Volunteer Rescue Team (EVRT).

Monica's department, with the assistance of local E.T.I. Corrals, Horseplaycentral.com, and a number of our founding members, is making a concentrated effort to recruit qualified volunteers.

EVRT members assist VCAR during times of disasters such as wildland fires, flooding, earthquakes, or any emergency incident requiring the evacuation of livestock. Volunteers, using their own vehicles and equipment, may be sent into disaster areas to capture and transport animals to safety, assess the needs and requirements for emergency evacuation, assist VCAR personnel in the transportation, housing, care and maintenance of temporarily displaced animals, or perform a number of clerical, dispatch, organizational or training functions in conjunction with EVRT operations.

EVRT members are provided limited liability protection during disaster events and when attending EVRT training, practice and planning sessions.

My family participates with Animal Control during brush fires and I can tell you first hand. This is a great community program, filled with great training and deeply satisfying volunteer work.

You can help and or get more information. Contact Monica at Animal Control or email her at monica.nolan@ventura.org

South Mountain Burglars:

We have a group of two or more burglars working the area of South Mountain near the 12th Street Bridge. They have stolen a .32 caliber gun and other personal items. Detectives believe they are tied to a gang out of Santa Paula.

They have burglarized three different ranches. Please keep an eye out. Some of the thefts have been during broad daylight. be careful, call 911 if you locate suspicious subjects on your farm, nursery or ranch.

Crime Rate:

We have attached the crime stats for the last two months and crime is down 24% compared to last year. Remember, last year's crime was down significantly from 2007. Farm Watch has made a difference. There is no doubt, that we have deputies that know you on a first name basis. It is from your pro-active partnership and caring attitude, that we do this together!

Trespass:

Sunday, August 23rd , at about 1030 p.m

Farm workers in the 3000 block of Dufau Road in the Oxnard Plains, called 911 to report that they could hear a vehicle inside of a closed nursery.

When Deputies arrived, the suspect vehicle fled and subsequently drove into a ditch. The driver (Juan Reza, 21 years) tried to flee. Poor Mr. Reza didn't realize that many of your rural deputies love to run. In fact, we even have a running team.

Needless to say, he lost the foot race and was quickly captured. He was arrested for being under the influence of narcotics. The passenger, Gloria Luna (20 years) was also arrested for unrelated charges.

Be safe Farm Watch…

Tim Hagel