Police bring awareness to Agricultural Theft Trends in the community. Thieves 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. Photos courtesy Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

Narrative:
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:

Note any suspicious vehicle or person that you notice on or around your property and send the information to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Call Sheriff’s Dispatch immediately if the subjects are still present or nearby. Emergency: 911 or Non-Emergency: (805) 654-9511.
Install a surveillance camera system to monitor structures, sheds, container boxes, and entrances and exits. Preferably a system that can be live streamed and monitored remotely for the greatest coordination between law enforcement.
Consider installing a fence, or other barrier, around your property to limit and control avenues of ingress and egress. These physical barriers not only serve as a deterrent, but also significantly reduce a suspect(s) ability to enter and exit the property, on foot or in a vehicle, without being noticed by employees or captured on an accompanying surveillance camera system.

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.

Prepared by: Detective John Grunhold
News Release Date: April 24th, 2024
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).