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Community: Apprehension of Out-Of-County Agricultural Theft Crew
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, March 7th, 2024
Crime prevention through environmental design techniques assisted Fillmore Patrol Station with capturing an out-of-county agricultural theft crew. On February 24th, 2024, patrol deputies assigned to the Fillmore Patrol Station responded to a call for service in the 1400 block of San Cayetano Street reference an audible alarm from a residence. During their investigation, patrol deputies discovered a theft of smudge pot agricultural equipment had occurred, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately $2,500 to $3,500. Surveillance camera footage showed two unknown subjects on the property at the time of the theft. In the early-morning hours of February 25th, 2024, deputies assigned to the Fillmore Patrol Station responded to an additional call for service in the 1400 block of San Cayetano Street reference an audible alarm from a residence. Utilizing remote access to surveillance cameras on the property, the ranch manager advised Sheriff’s Dispatch there was an unknown subject actively stealing agricultural equipment. Upon their arrival, patrol deputies detained Juan Carlos Leon and identified him as the suspect involved with the theft. During their investigation, patrol deputies found Juan Carlos Leon to be in possession of smudge pot agricultural equipment, with an estimated value of approximately $1,000. Juan Carlos Leon admitted to also being responsible for the theft occurring on February 24th, 2024. Juan Carlos Leon was subsequently arrested and booked into the Ventura County Main Jail for being in violation of Penal Code § 487 (a) – Grand Theft. Fillmore Investigations Bureau conducted a follow-up investigation reference the theft of agriculture equipment occurring on February 24th, 2024. Utilizing various investigative techniques, investigators were able to identify Juan Carlos Leon’s co-conspirator as Juan Manuel Diaz. On February 27th, 2024, investigators contacted Juan Manuel Diaz in the 500 block of Sespe Avenue in the City of Fillmore. As a result of the contact, investigators arrested Juan Manuel Diaz and booked him into the Ventura County Main Jail for being in violation of Penal Code § 487 (a) – Grand Theft and Penal Code § 182 (a)(1) – Conspiracy. Investigators were also able to recover some of the stolen smudge pot agricultural equipment and return the property to the victim. 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. Report Number: 24-23424 and 24-23771 Prepared by: Detective Dustin Heersche |
