Thieves snatch 2K pounds of peaches stolen from Fresno farmers

California, previously known for its meth issues, is now experiencing a different type of crime: fruit theft.

Francisco Lopez, 54, from Reedley, and Josue Vargas, 46, from Orange Cove, were apprehended by Fresno County sheriff’s detectives who are part of the Agricultural Crimes Task Force, officials reported.

The two men from Central Valley were detained for allegedly stealing approximately 2,000 pounds of peaches from a farm. Their mug shots were released following this significant theft.

The duo was arrested on suspicion of felony grand theft of farm crops after detectives linked a suspect vehicle to a series of stone fruit thefts in Fresno and Tulare counties, as stated by the sheriff’s office.

The investigation made progress on Monday night when a deputy stopped a matching pickup truck towing a trailer near Dinuba, at Kamm Avenue and Road 56.

Inside the trailer, officers found crates filled with nearly 2,000 pounds of Pink Moon Peaches, valued at about $8,500.

Detectives concluded that the peaches had been stolen the previous Sunday from a farm in Tulare County.

Lopez’s bail was set at $10,000, while Vargas’s total bail was set at $50,000 due to additional DUI-related warrants, according to officials.

A third individual in the truck, 56-year-old Jesus Chacon from Reedley, was also arrested on outstanding warrants for drug possession and battery, the sheriff’s office stated.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office intends to file further criminal charges against Lopez and Vargas, as the alleged theft occurred within its jurisdiction.

Fresno, highlighted in the 2009 documentary “The City Addicted to Crystal Meth,” has recently gained a humorous reputation as the Central Valley city frequently appears positively in national rankings.

However, this incident has brought its notorious past into conflict with one of the region’s key industries: agriculture.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office advised farmers to enhance security by installing cameras at entry points, loading zones, and packing areas, utilizing trail cameras in remote orchards, ensuring well-lit entrances, and avoiding leaving harvested bins in fields overnight.

Additional recommendations included clearing vegetation around gates and roads to remove hiding places, securing loaded trailers in yards when possible, and marking bins with permanent farm identifiers.

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