Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: 17700 Block South Mountain Road, Santa Paula
Victim, City: Thrasher Ranch, Santa Paula
Suspects, Age:
Abraham Valencia, Santa Paula, 21
Arthur Lara, Santa Paula, 65

Our local farmers are in the avocado harvesting season that will extend through early summer. Theft suspects have been seen casing Ventura County farms but they are not alone. Sheriff’s agriculture crimes detectives have been conducting surveillances of many avocado groves. Stealing more than $100 of agricultural crops is a felony. Last year, Sheriff’s detectives arrested 29 suspects and charged them with stealing over $115,000 dollars worth of local produce.
On April 10, at about 2:00 p.m., the Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes / Agricultural Detail concluded an avocado theft investigation that resulted in the arrest of two suspects. Detectives obtained suspect information from local farmers and arranged to purchase stolen avocados from two subjects who were trying to sell the stolen fruit. A Sheriff’s detective was placed undercover and posed as a buyer. Abraham Valencia and Arthur Lara had a small but organized theft operation in which they secretly entered local Santa Clara Valley farms and stole avocados for later resale. They would then conspire to sell them to any buyer interested in purchasing. Valencia and Lara would search for buyers throughout the community, including local restaurants and markets. Mere possession of stolen fruit is also a felony.

A six-person Sheriff’s surveillance team made arrangements to buy stolen fruit from the theft ring. After brief negotiations, Lara and Valencia advised they had 120 pounds of fresh fruit that they needed to unload. Detectives set up a meet to inspect the fruit. The suspects were arrested during the meet. Detectives recovered the fruit and found additional stolen crates from a Santa Paula market.

Abraham Valencia and Arthur Lara were arrested and booked at the Main Jail for felony grand theft and felony possession of stolen property. The case is being presented to the District Attorney.

Local residents are encouraged to provide agricultural theft tips to the Major Crimes Unit at 805-477-7029. Typical theft operations involve small vans or trucks parked in orchards and along roadways that border them during late evenings or off hours. Farmers rarely pick or load fruit during the night. If you see an obvious theft in progress, call 911. Do not confront any suspects.