In a Tuesday report Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones said that during the last thirty days the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating a large number of rural thefts throughout the county.
The thieves are mainly targeting large pieces of farm equipment or iron that has a higher scrap metal value, he said.
On Aug. 5 two I-beams valued at $2,000 were stolen from a bridge construction site in southern Glenn County, Jones said.
He said the Colusa County Sheriff's Office later received information that the items had been sold for scrap in their county. However, the items were identified by the victim and returned.
During the investigation into the I-beam theft it was found that a trailer used for the transportation of agricultural equipment was used in stealing the beams. Jones said the trailer also was found to be stolen from a local farmer in Glenn County.
Then on Aug. 11 a Glenn County farmer reported the loss of a large rice roller valued at $2,500 from his property in Ord Bend, Jones said.
Detectives from the Glenn County Sheriff's Major Crimes Unit – who Jones said previously been assigned the case – responded to investigate the theft.
During the investigation the victim was able to locate the property at a local scrap metal facility in Glenn County. Jones said detectives also were able to locate other pieces of farm equipment at the location that had been sold for scrap metal.
During that same week the victim that owned one of the pieces of equipment reported the theft of a laser tower which was stolen from an equipment pad in the Bayliss area, said Jones.
In that case, the victim was able to identify the tower, valued at $1,000. Jones said the property will be returned to the owner after the investigation is complete.
Jones said Det. Greg Felton and Det. Kelly Knight are diligently investigating the crimes and attempting to locate the owner of a straddle-bug equipment hauler that had also been scrapped. Local farmers are being asked to check their equipment storage sites for any missing items.
During July a farmer from Butte County reported the theft of an orchard leveler to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, Jones said. The leveler was valued at $18,000.
Jones said during the investigation Major Crimes Unit detectives developed enough information to obtain a search warrant for a residence in the rural area of Orland. During the execution of the search warrant the orchard leveler was located.
He said detectives also were able to locate approximately $29,000 worth of stolen property.
The investigation is ongoing, and Jones said arrests are expected in the future.
Anyone with information is asked to call Felton or Knight at 530-934-6431.
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