Sheriff
’s deputies have recovered several pieces of stolen farm
equipment in San Martin and Hollister recently, returning one
all-terrain vehicle – that was taken in a string of farm thefts
earlier this year – to a San Martin farmer.
Sheriff’s deputies have recovered several pieces of stolen farm equipment in San Martin and Hollister recently, returning one all-terrain vehicle – that was taken in a string of farm thefts earlier this year – to a San Martin farmer.
Meanwhile, the new deputy assigned to the rural areas of South County has been named. Deputy Douglas VanderEsch will take over the Rural Crime Unit Jan. 3.
Residents of Murphy Avenue in San Martin and Betabel Road in Hollister consented to deputies’ searches conducted within six days of each other, on Nov. 27 and Dec. 3.
Deputy Gabriel Sandoval recovered the $5,000 all-terrain vehicle, a $50,000 tractor, and two motorcycles worth several thousand dollars – all stolen – from the Murphy Avenue home between San Martin and Fisher avenues.
The tractor was stolen from Fresno, while the ATV belonged to Louie Bonino of LJB Farms in San Martin.
Jose Manuel, 28, was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, a felony, two charges of possession of stolen property, both felonies, and altering a Vehicle Identification Number, a misdemeanor.
Erika Mendoza, 25, also was arrested, for being under the influence of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.
Thieves struck South County farmers repeatedly during a roughly six-month period between May and November this year, making off with farm equipment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
VanderEsch’s background – he grew up on a 400-acre farm in Iowa – and his current assignment in the Sheriff’s parks patrol unit will both serve him on the rural crime beat.
