Farm Watch Collaboration Results in Four Arrests 

June 11, 2024 –  Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that in collaboration with Farm Watch, the Fillmore Bureau of Investigation communicated crime trends identified from recent agricultural thefts occurring in the Santa Clara Valley.  Empowering the agricultural community as our eyes and ears has contributed to the apprehension of an agricultural theft group.

On June 9, 2024, deputies assigned to the Fillmore Patrol Station responded to a call-for-service at a local ranch reference an avocado theft.  The reporting party provided Sheriff’s Dispatch detailed information, which led to patrol resources locating the suspect vehicle fleeing the area.  An enforcement stop was conducted on the vehicle, which was determined to be occupied by several individuals; all of which resided out of the area in Norwalk, CA.

A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of hundreds of pounds of stolen avocados.  David Melchor, Jesus Pozos, Valentin Pozos, and Epifania Pozos were arrested for felonious violations of Penal Code § 487(b)(1)(a) – [Agricultural Grand Theft] and 182(a)(1) – [Criminal Conspiracy].  They were also arrested for Penal Code § 602.8(a) – [Trespassing].  The stolen avocados were returned to the ranch while all four subjects were booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility pending court proceedings.

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.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Fillmore Police Department are committed to increasing and strengthening community partnerships and utilizing technologies and evidence-based practices to enhance collaborative efforts at reducing crime and improving public safety of all residents by continued community partnerships.  Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes.  We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships.  Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @fillmoresheriff, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Source: Ventura County Sheriff's Office