Message from Detective Ray Dominguez:

Greetings Farm Watch Readers, over the past month I have seen a number of reports filed reference vehicle burglaries. As I have mentioned in the past, unknown suspect(s) are targeting field workers vehicles parked along the edge of the roadway. The suspect(s) are using an unknown tool to shatter the windows on these vehicles and stealing electronic items including car stereos. The suspect(s) are also rummaging through the passenger compartments and taking items from purses including credit cards that have been used to purchase electronics online at places like Best Buy and the Apple Store.

The Sheriff’s Crime Analysis Unit has prepared a flyer in both English and Spanish addressing this issue. Refer to the attached flyer and please print out some copies for yourself to post them at your farms and ranches to alert your employees of this on-going problem. Please remind them to lock their vehicle doors and secure their personal property out of sight. If possible, designate a storage locker area where they can store their belongings during their work shift or ask them to leave their valuables at home whenever possible. No suspect(s) have been identified in these cases. The areas targeted most recently have been farms located in the area of Hueneme Rd. / Wood Rd. in the unincorporated area of Camarillo, and one report in the Somis area off of La Loma Ave.

Please remind your employees to immediately report suspicious subjects or vehicles in the area to police. Ask them to snap a photo if they have a cellular phone handy or try to copy down the vehicle license plate number or any vehicle/suspect description.

For those of you growing avocados, as we start the new season I have sent out information to our various patrol stations alerting them to be vigilant in anticipation of avocado thefts. Many of our deputies are trained and experienced in handling these types of calls. Please remind your employees that if they encounter a theft in progress to please contact our Sheriff’s Dispatch Center immediately 911 or 654-9511 and let the dispatcher know this is a theft in progress call as opposed to a late report.

Once they are in contact with the dispatcher, they will be asked to provide information in real time about the suspect(s) description, any vehicles involved, location of the offense, direction of travel, etc.

Please ask your employees to avoid confronting the suspect(s) themselves as they don’t know who they may be dealing with, and may spook them causing them to flee before deputies arrive.

Please remind your employees to not disturb the crime scene or items left behind by the suspect(s) as they may prove valuable as evidence. Tell them not to touch or move anything because they will contaminate the scene. In my experience, these crooks have been known to pile fruit under trees or at the edge of a roadway and come back later to retrieve the fruit. In such a case, we may be able to catch the crooks and make an arrest as they return to the scene.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact me directly at 384-4726 or by email at ray.dominguez@ventura.org.

The following advice is always wise if you suspect illegal activity on your property:

Call the Sheriff’s Office immediately at 911.
Be a good witness
Note suspect descriptions such as age, height, weight, facial hair, clothing, and shoe type.
If a vehicle is involved, obtain a license plate number and note vehicle color, body damage, bumper stickers, camper shell, after market tires and wheels, etc.
Provide the dispatcher with information about the time and last known direction of travel.
If you are not sure of how to address the problem or would like additional crime prevention tips please contact your local Sheriff’s Office substation or Detective Ray Dominguez directly at (805) 384-4726 or by email at ray.dominguez@ventura.org.

Contacts:

Camarillo Detective Robert Arthur, robert.arthur@ventura.org

Fillmore Detective John Fox john.fox@ventura.org

Ventura Detective Dennis Smith dennis.smith@ventura.org

Agricultural Crimes Detective, Ray Dominguez at Ray.Dominguez@ventura.org

As always, we would like to thank Sheriff’s Crime Analyst Karen Brown and Det. Ray Dominguez, for this issue’s great crime and alert update.

Be alert and always safe!

Monica (797-6338)

Geoff Dean - Sheriff

John Crombach and Gary Pentis - Assistant Sheriffs