1 year ago
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TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - A antheral was arrested Wednesday aft a months-long probe led detectives to what they accidental was a "major copper ligament theft bust," according to the Tulare County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's bureau says since December 2024, they person been receiving aggregate reports of copper ligament theft, chiefly from progressive workplace irrigation pumps successful the confederate portion of the county, resulting successful tens of thousands of dollars successful damages from each case.
According to the sheriff's office, deputies were called to the country of Avenue 16 and Road 184 successful Delano connected Jan. 20 for a copper ligament theft from an irrigation pump.
The outgo to regenerate the ligament and repair the damaged pump and components was estimated to beryllium $25,000, deputies said.
Deputies accidental they were capable to find grounds astatine the country which past led them to a store successful Delano, wherever they obtained video footage of a antheral and the pickup helium drove.
According to sheriff's officials, Ag transgression detectives were briefed and learned that the Kern County Sheriff's Office Ag Crimes Unit was besides investigating ligament thefts involving the aforesaid suspect.
Deputies accidental the fishy was identified arsenic 46-year-old Israel Barraza of Earlimart and Wasco.
The sheriff's bureau says astatine astir 8:30 a.m. connected Jan. 22, astatine astir 8:30 p.m., deputies connected patrol successful the Earlimart country recognized Barraza's pickup motortruck and conducted a postulation stop.
As deputies approached Barraza's pickup, they accidental they saw a ample magnitude of precocious stripped copper ligament successful the bed.
Deputies accidental Barraza was arrested for suspicion of expansive theft of copper and possession of stolen property.
He besides had an progressive warrant for his arrest.
