Sgt. Joe England with the Tulare County Rural Ag Crime unit, said this electrical panel box, which controls the almond orchard’s irrigation pump, could be a prime target for thieves seeking copper wire (photo by C. Merlo.)
Dave Bente with The Zenith Insurance Company said theft or vandalism is a crime of “opportunity and access" (photo courtesy D. Bente.)
Detective Don Stuhmer, president of the California Rural Crime Prevention Task Force, often works with OfferUp to find stolen property that’s been posted on the online marketplace (photo courtesy D. Stuhmer.)
Continued from Page 55 sharing knowledge and learning from each other.” Like many, Stuhmer is frustrated by the light punishment for ag crimes. Perpetrators often receive probation or small fines and rarely do jail time, he said, especially now that COVID-19 restrictions are limiting the number of inmates in facilities.
What You Can Do
To prevent theft and other criminal activity, Stuhmer, England and Bente urge growers to follow these tips: It may seem obvious but always lock vehicles left in the orchard (photo by C. Merlo.)
• Install power interrupt devices. “Most equipment has a single key to start all equipment made by a manufacturer,” Bente said. “Many times the key is left in the ignition, hidden under the seat or in a cup holder.” That makes the equipment an easy target for theft. Bente advises his customers to install a battery interrupt or Perko® switch. This interrupts the electrical system, cutting power and preventing the unit from starting. Although many stolen units have a shut-off switch installed by the factory, too many owners and operators just don’t use it, he added.
• Add GPS tracking systems to equipment.
• Always lock vehicles, compartments, doors, windows and fuel and oil caps.
“We have a 100% recovery rate on stolen property that’s equipped with GPS devices,” said England.
• Install locking entry gates, yard fences, alarm systems
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and surveillance cameras to harden the target. “We’d love for people to put an 18-foot wall around their property, but we know that’s not feasible,” Stuhmer said. But taking extra precautions can help deter criminal activity or help law enforcement find the perpetrators.
Share your suspicions.
“If you see something that doesn’t look right, like taillights at night or unfamiliar tracks, let us know,” England said. “We can set up a patrol to keep an eye on your area.” • Report thefts and other criminal activity to law enforcement. Stuhmer’s biggest complaint is the lack of communication between ag crime victims and law enforcement. “If we don’t know about it, we can’t do anything about it,” he said. “We need to know. If someone gets six convictions for grand theft, then they’ll see prison time.”
WizardManufacturing.com info@wizardmanufacturing.com 530.342.1861 • Ca Lic. # 1036445
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West Coast Nut
October 2021
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