A message from Detective Ray Dominguez:
Greetings Farm Watch readers, recent reports indicate that commercial burglaries are on the rise. We’ve had multiple burglaries and attempted burglaries reported throughout the Oxnard Plains and Somis area. I’m finding that many of these burglaries involved suspect(s) cutting pad locks or chain link fences to gain access to the property. The suspect(s) have then cut or pried their way into storage containers, storage sheds, and farm offices to steal everything from office computer systems, tools, and even buckets containing loose brass sprinkler heads.

The trend I’m seeing involves suspects using tools to pry at exposed door hinges instead of trying to defeat heavy‐duty locks used to secure doors on outbuildings. The suspects are looking for the weakest link to access your shed. Please check your sheds and storage buildings for this potential problem. If your door hinges are exposed, try moving them to the interior of the shed to reduce the chance of having the hinges pried at. The same holds true for hinges on chain link fences. The suspects will dismantle the hinges if they have access to them, and lift a gate off the hinge in lieu of trying to defeat your heavy‐duty chain and locks.

Suspect(s) have also been cutting or pounding small access holes into the sides of wood or sheet metal storage sheds to gain access. Once they gain access, they crawl inside or simply pull the property out via the opening they create. Take a look at your building and see what can be done to defeat this type of attack. If you can’t reinforce the existing building, then consider moving your valuables to a more secure location.

Another trend I’ve seen is victims leaving vehicles unlocked with the keys left inside. Please don’t fall into this bad habit! I’ve seen this happen with everything from farm quads to tractors. Don’t make it any easier for crooks to steal your vehicles and use them in the commission of a burglary or other crime. Keep your vehicles secured and the keys in a protected area.

Remember, if you discover a burglary or theft has occurred, please contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately at 654‐9511 or 911 in an emergency, and keep people and animals out of the area to avoid contaminating the crime scene. Please do not allow anyone to touch or move anything in the area as they may be contaminating or destroying otherwise viable evidence.

Finally, I wanted to pass along information about two requests I received. A reminder that our friends at the Ventura County Animal Services have asked for your assistance, and are working on compiling a contact list. They are particularly interested in gathering contact information for owners of large animals so they can get in contact with you in the event of an emergency. If you’re interested in sharing this information with them, please contact Bryan Bray by email at bryan.bray@ventura.org.

The second request comes from Rosie Castillo of the Limoneira Company. Just a reminder that she is forming a neighborhood watch program and is extending an invitation to neighboring farms, ranches, homes, and other businesses in the area of 1141 Cummings Road in Santa Paula. If you’re interested in joining the program, please contact Rosie at (805) 525‐5541 Ext. 238 or by email at rcastillo@limoneira.com.

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 a problem or would like additional crime prevention tips please contact your local Sheriff’s Office substation or me 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 ray.dominguez@ventura.org

As always, I would like to thank Sheriff’s Crime Analyst Cheryl McCulloch for this issue’s great crime and alert update. Be alert and stay safe!
Ray
Geoff Dean – Sheriff
John Crombach and Gary Pentis - Assistant Sheriffs