Nacho Typical Crime: Taco Truck Owner Stages His Own Robbery 

August 13, 2024 – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on August 2, 2024, TCSO Deputies were called to an area on W. Caldwell Ave in Visalia for a robbery at a taco truck.

When Deputies arrived, the taco truck owner, Pablo Serrano, told them the suspects took cash and his $80,000 truck during the robbery. Surveillance footage caught the robbery on camera. Detectives tracked down the stolen truck fully engulfed in flames in an orchard near Woodlake. The truck was a complete loss, and there was more than $10,000 in damage to the orchard. 

In the days following the robbery and arson, Detectives found evidence indicating that Serrano had staged the robbery with his friends to make an insurance claim on the $80,000 truck. The day after the robbery, Serrano made an insurance claim for his burned vehicle.

On August 12, 2024, Detectives went to the Taco Truck and arrested Serrano for Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, Arson and Insurance Fraud. Juan Mendez was also arrested for conspiracy and arson. At least one additional suspect is still wanted in questioning.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 1-800-808-0488 or anonymously at tcso@tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at 559-725-4194.

Source & photos: Tulare County Sheriff’s Office