By Aaron Collins

The problem: Agribusiness-related thefts this year cost Tulare County farmers $836,388 in annual losses through October. With 184 reported cases so far this year, that’s a whopping average loss of more than $4,500 per crime.

The good news: More than $302,000 of that stolen property has been recovered—a source of pride within the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Crimes Unit. So far in 2009, there have been twenty-seven felony arrests and fourteen misdemeanor arrests, according to Sgt. Robert Schimpf, supervisor of the Ag Crimes Unit.

In 2008, the total loss due to ag crime was $2.3 million for Tulare County, with a recovery of nearly $900,000. This level of incidents was due mostly to the booming price of metals, which led to increased theft.

While property crime units typically experience a recovery rate of just 10 to 20%, the Ag Unit historically has retrieved as much as 50% of stolen goods. Some of this is attributable to the more easily spotted size of large farm equipment and a specialized market for such stolen items. Nonetheless, Schimpf says, “Our unit takes a high level of pride in the recovery statistics.”

But Tulare County Farm Bureau Executive Director Tricia Stever wonders if those incident statistics reflect the true scope of the problem. “I think the figures are an important first step and are evidence of the significance of ag crime in the area, but it probably is not truly reflective of the full scope of the problem, because some goes unreported,” Stever says.

What’s does she think is driving this underreporting problem?

“We know that the most critical step in preventing crimes and solving crimes is to report any problems or suspicious behaviors that arise. But oftentimes it is difficult for farmers and ranchers to gather the necessary data to file a criminal report or provide the necessary details to initiate an investigation,” says Stever.

But she thinks that because these crimes often happen in remote areas, after dark, and away from the view of the property owner, sometimes days or weeks go by before a rural property owner even knows a crime has been committed. When farmers finally discover it, they think the optimal time window to report has passed.

“Sometimes complacency also plays a role,” says Stever, “and the farmer does not report concerns because they feel nothing can be done to rectify the situation. I don’t think this is a result of lack of performance by our local law enforcement, but the understanding that they are busy on many important issues, and sometimes rural crime issues are not the number one priority.”

Even so, Stever feels that TCSO’s approach is “very good and seeks to address the problems. But of course we realize that political will, financial considerations, and staffing constraints do play a role in how much of a priority rural crime prevention (has). I think considering these limitations and challenges, our TCSO does a great job and we feel well informed of their efforts.”

Ag Vulnerabilities

The Ag Crimes Unit guys might disagree on the issue of priorities, but they wholeheartedly agree with Stever’s assessment of the logistics enabling ag crimes.

According to Sgt. Schimpf, a Tulare County native and eleven-year law enforcement veteran, the most significant vulnerability associated with agricultural crime is the environment. “Growers and ranchers conduct their business in rural locations where it is very challenging to protect their assets,” he says, adding that in isolated rural environments “the criminal element will target valuables from equipment to commodities and livestock.”

If location plays a role, so do the vagaries of the shifting economy. When metals prices were up, we heard much about copper theft, for example.

“Metal theft was undoubtedly the most significant challenge for our unit through the fall of 2008,” reports Sgt. Schimpf. “But when prices dropped, we saw a direct decline in theft. During this period of time, the unit was concentrating a majority of our efforts on deterring metal theft and working with the recycling industry.”

A number of new laws are aimed at curbing what was recently a no-questions-asked cash for metals industry. Recyclers must now withhold payment for three days, check a photo ID and take a thumbprint of anyone selling scrap metals. It also requires anyone convicted of metal theft to pay restitution for the materials stolen and for any collateral damage caused during the theft. Sellers must also show a government ID and proof of their current address. If recyclers break the law, they face suspension or revocation of their business license and increased fines and jail time.

SB 447 by Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria, recently appointed Lt. Governor by Governor Schwarzenegger) requires scrap metal dealers and recyclers to report daily which types of materials are being scrapped at their facilities and by whom (similar rules already apply to pawn shop dealers). To offset the impact of the new laws, Schimpf says, “we have worked hand in hand with Tulare County Recyclers to assist them in implementation.”

Ironically, the economy was perhaps nearly as effective in reducing metal theft as law enforcement efforts. In September of 2008, the market prices for recyclable metals began to drop considerably. The reduction in price seemed to directly reduce incidents of theft, Schimpf says. “As the year progressed, traffic at the recycling centers eventually became non-existent. By the end of the year, a majority of the recycle centers had laid off most of their employees and were doing little business.”

Beyond metal theft, the unit experiences similar trends each year, he points out. “Our crime trends change directly with local agricultural processes. With each harvest, regardless of the product, we experience theft” that is specific to the season, Schimpf says. For example, during the winter seasons, wind machines are operable so fuel thefts increase. And depending on chemical applications, growers will be targeted for whatever is being applied at the time.

The Ag Crimes Unit consists of Capt. Mike Boudreaux, Lt. Scott Logue, Sgt. Schimpf, Det. Mike Rubalcaba, Det. Gary Marks, and Det. Dale Cullum. Their mission is to investigate crime associated with any agricultural-related business that takes place in the unincorporated rural areas of the county, and impacts the victim’s commercial production, distribution, or economic livelihood derived from agricultural commodities, livestock, petroleum, chemicals, farm implements, or equipment. The Agricultural Crimes Unit also investigates incidents of recyclable metal theft.

Schimpf points out that growers and ranchers are business people creating a product, like any other business—only their product and efforts cannot be confined to a secured factory or warehouse, and so are often left exposed.

Further complicating matters, farm equipment that is not registered with the DMV is difficult to track. The Ag Crimes Unit’s answer? The Owner Applied Number Program, (OAN) which encourages farmers to number and identify their assets.

Two Types of Criminals

“The Ag Unit encounters no biases when it comes to agricultural crime,” Schimpf says. “The same criminals that target other victims will target ag business too.”

But there are two classes of ag criminals. Those who commit crimes of opportunity—nicking ag equipment or supplies easily swiped by anyone—but also a concerted effort by crime rings that seem to specialize in ag crime, Schimpf says. “Without a doubt, someone targeting agricultural items such as chemicals will have to have a specific knowledge and some sort of market in place to move the item. Some items sought by thieves are more specialized than others, which may distinguish the organized thieves targeting ag products.”

The Ag Crimes Unit deters theft and apprehends violators in a variety of ways, including working varied schedules and conducting surveillance details. The department uses what Schimpf calls “creative forms of modern technology to combat and arrest offenders,” although authorities are protective of their tactics and prefer not to share much with the general public, he adds.

The Ag Crimes team also networks with the Farm Bureau and area service groups such as Kiwanis and Lions Clubs to raise awareness of their efforts.

The Farm Bureau supports the TCSO Ag Crimes effort in a variety of ways, including by helping mitigate yet another type of ag crime: Illegal dumping on farmland. “We provide a trash abatement program to help mitigate the impacts of illegal trash dumping, and provide a hotline to growers to call the Sheriff when dumping has occurred. The Tulare County Sheriff’s office will send out a clean-up crew for tires and other trash. This has been a great success in our county,” says Stever.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Agricultural Crimes Unit is funded by a grant from the Central Valley Rural Crime Prevention Program through the Law Enforcement  Division of the California Office of Emergency Services. Since its inception, the Central Valley Rural Crime Task Force has funded ag crime law enforcement efforts starting in Tulare County. After its initial success, surrounding counties have joined the task force, which now includes thirteen counties.

***Sidebar ***

What Can Agribusinesses Do to Protect Themselves?

The Ag Crimes Unit recommends that all growers and ranchers take every possible step to avoid being a target to thieves.

• Maintain an inventory list of equipment, complete with serial VIN or PIN numbers, make and model, year, color, and any other identifying information.

• Photograph inventory items for identification in the event of a theft.

• Mark your items with an Owner Applied Number (OAN).

• When possible, bring major equipment in from the field each night and adequately secure barns and storage facilities.

• If equipment must be left out overnight, leave it in an area where it can be monitored or seen whenever possible. Disable the equipment by disconnecting the ignition or removing the battery.

• Do not leave equipment in the back of pickup trucks. Lock all tool boxes and try not to display items of value.

• Request that chemicals and other supplies be delivered when needed and do not store them for extended lengths of time. Break any seals on chemical products to deter theft. Open containers are of little value, even in an illegal market.

One of the best options for farmers: The Ag Crimes Unit will also conduct a crime prevention and security assessment upon request. Contact the TCSO Ag Crimes Unit at 1-800-370-9055 or 559-740-4300. In an emergency, call 911 or 559-733-6218.

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