Two suspected thieves have been busted in Ventura County after a savvy ranch manager helped deputies hook them via surveillance tech. The duo, identified as Juan Carlos Leon, 28, and Juan Manuel Diaz, 29, were slapped with grand theft charges for allegedly swiping thousands of dollars worth of smudge pot agricultural equipment.
The scheme unraveled beginning February 24 when deputies responded to an alarm at a property on the 1400 block of San Cayetano Street. They arrived to find evidence of a heist and surveillance footage that showed figures lurking at the crime scene. The theft marked an estimated loss between $2,500 and $3,500, but this was just the start of the problem, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.
The collar led to his alleged partner in crime, Diaz, who was nabbed by investigators on February 27 after a follow-up sleuthing. Diaz, getting caught in the city of Fillmore, was also introduced to the local accommodations at Ventura County Main Jail. The 500 block of Sespe Avenue, where Diaz was apprehended, became the scene of his downfall after investigators pieced the puzzle together. The Sheriff's Office boasted some of the stolen property was recovered and returned to the rightful owner, as per the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.
Officials are tooting the horn of their "Farm Watch" program, an electronic neighborhood watch initiative catering to the agricultural community, which has played a pivotal role in this case. They're drumming up support on social media with a clarion call to join forces against crime, using platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Nixle to keep the populace in the loop.
Meanwhile, the Ventura County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for tips leading to the arrest and charge of individuals linked to this crime, urging informants to dial 800-222-TIPS (8477) and potentially pocket some cash while they're at it.
