Welcome to the second February 2010 Ventura County Sheriff Farm Watch.
Uniting farmers, ranchers, supply houses, nurseries, oilfields and our entire agricultural community.
For our newest members, remember you will never get spammed. You can un-subscribe any time, just send us an email.
Congratulations Farm Watch members!
What a perfect Saturday morning to be writing our newsletter.
We just broke the 500 member mark.
Who would have ever thought 500 ranches farms, nurseries and such..?
500 different sets of crime fighting eyes, keeping Ag-crime abated in Ventura County and joining one another in an entire virtual rural community.
Be on the Lookout (B.O.L)
Ag Commissioner Henry Gonzales and his team of investigators, combined with the Farm Bureau, state and federal scientist are looking for a fugitive called the Asian Psyllid. This critter is trying to destroy our California's $1.2-billion Ag-industry.
Just as the Asian Psyllid silently prepares to strike local farmers, so does another element of well organized fugitives.
We have recently been contacted by local residents who have had their VISA and MASTERCARDS "skimmed" at gas stations throughout Ventura County. This is a stealthy and silent crime.
What is skimming? After reading this, you will understand it and reduce your chances of your farm or ranch becoming the next victim.
Skimming is a crime that is typically run by a well organized group out of the Los Angeles basin.
A skimmer is a micro-credit and fleet fuel card reader that is illegal. The criminal group installs electronic "Skimmer Recorders" inside the guts of gas station pumps. You usually can't see them as they are often behind the gas pump access door.
We just sent deputies out this week and checked the inside of pumps in our area. On one search, we recovered 2 Skimmers. Each skimmer was high tech and was holding about 400 credit card transactions. These crooks install them late at night and harvest credit card information for days.
The "organized crime" group then makes a duplicate card of yours (with all your personal information) and they then start making charges against your credit card account out of the county.
Tip: These bad guys love to keep the illegal charges between $60 to $90 (low and hidden) in your bill. There is not one specific gas station brand they hit. As a matter of fact, they also hit fleet type gas stations and will even clone fleet gas cards used by the police and farms.
We are on board with the Secret Service, Simi and Santa Paula Police Departments to apprehend them.
You can help.
#1. Try to always use a pump that has a gas station video camera looking right at it. Virtually every time, Skimmers only hit gas pumps without good camera coverage.
#2. Skimmer Thieves love to install at gas stations without exterior cameras.
#3. When in doubt or out of town, hand your card to an attendant. This simple act will nearly guarantee no fraud.
#4. Check your monthly bill. Look for charges at gas stations that you do not use.
#5. Report fraudulent use to your local police station and then Email me at tim.hagel@ventura.org if you find a fraudulent skimming charge. Farm Watch is working with the Secret Service and we want to coordinate information so we can catch these guys.
#6. Encourage your gas station to check for Skimmers inside the gas pump at least 3 times a day. Show the station manager the attached Farm Watch picture of a skimmer. Early detection by a gas station owner or manager can save hundreds of thousands of dollars for victims.
Like the Asian Psyllid , lets stomp out this crime.
Construction Site Burglar:
The latest victim was able to obtain a vehicle plate as the crook took off at a high rate of speed heading in the Ojai area southbound near Highway 150. The vehicle is a older model Mazda pickup with a camper shell and has the word “Mazda” written in silver on the tailgate. The license plate is CA 4S31082. If you see this vehicle, contact Detective Wes Johnson at 805-684-5405 X423 Do not approach the suspect.
Foothill Burglar:
An unknown burglar is hitting our nurseries along Foothill between Ventura and Santa Paula. He is even hit the S.C.E service trucks in the area. The burglar prefers rural areas and uses the cover or orchards to approach shops and nurseries. We have recovered some stolen tools that he left behind in the orchards, so the burglar is running away in haste. Taken was, 2 air compressors, 3 field pumps, 30 pair of rubber boots. If you have any tips, contact Sheriff's Detective Chris Returra at Christine.Rettura@ventura.org Chris needs your help.
Who-What-Where-When-Why:
These are the questions a 911 dispatcher is going to ask you when you call to report a crime. Farm Watch has released an information card attached in PDF Form to this newsletter. This card is the same template your deputies use every day to catch crooks. Print the card and keep them in your work truck. Try to get as much information as you can when you call us.
Ranger Burglar:
Two male burglars were caught in the act along Guiberson Road. however, they escaped in an older White, extended-cab Ford Ranger with a large blue stripe down both sides of the truck. A local Farm Watch member caught them going through his equipment yard. They escaped with stolen property. Folks, this should be an easy truck for the 500 Farm Watch members to find, keep your eyes open. If you see it, get the license plate and call me at 805-524-2233. Do not confront the suspects.
Lassie always gets the bad guys:
Last week, local Farm Watch members heard dogs barking outside at 530 A.M. Astute as the were (the dogs and farmers), they checked outside and observed two males hiding in an orchard. Remember this is 5:30 in the morning. Deputies responded immediately and set up a perimeter. The deputies thought that it was fruit thieves and were hoping to catch them. A great job by all, as the deputies caught the male suspects.
They were arrested for conspiracy, drug charges and possession of burglary tools.
As it turns out, these were not only fruit pickers. They had ski masks, gloves and were ready to break into some farm outbuildings. Arrested was 23 year old Michael Wear.
Remember Lassie always gets the bad guys! By the way, Lassie's name had to be changed in order to protect her K-9 witness status.
Backhoe recovered by Farm Watch:
A local Farm Watch member just had a brand new rental backhoe stolen a few days ago from a rural farm site. Deputy Mike Stevenson immediately started searching the Santa Clara River Valley to see if he could find it. He was interviewing local farmers and a Farm Watch member gave him a tip that led Stevenson to the location of the abandoned backhoe. The suspects are unknown and at-large but the back hoe is recovered undamaged.
Tree Theft:
A local nursery just had avocados trees stolen. The crooks took twenty(20) . If you get an offer for a suspicious sale of new trees contact Detective Ray Dominguez at ray.dominguez@ventura.org
Saddle Theft:
A local Piru ranch just had an outbuilding broken into. Saddles were taken. Their livestock was let loose. Isn't it enough to steal, let alone endanger livestock near a highway?.. Any tips?
Las Posas Duece:
A drunk driver did a serious hit and run in the L.A Avenue/118 corridor in Somis. He fled on foot and was hiding in a local farm when nursery workers discovered him hiding in a building. The farm workers immediately called 911 and he was caught by deputies and the CHP. A big thanks to these workers who overcame their language barriers and fear to call 911... Always encourage your Ag-workers to use 911, we are ready for their calls.
Oh I forgot... the word Duece is also police term for drunk driver. The term represents a portion of the numbers in the vehicle code. A little farm watch primer in police jargon.... (:
Stay dry today on this wonderful rainy weekend...
and...Be safe Farm Watch,
Tim Hagel