Five Tulare County Dairies Robbed by Armed Thieves, Ends in Shootout

Gunfire was the result of a crime spree that spanned five rural Tulare County California dairies last week.
Gunfire was the result of a crime spree that spanned five rural Tulare County California dairies last week.
(Farm Journal)

Gunfire was the result of a crime spree that spanned five rural Tulare County California dairies last week.

Deputies were called to Little Rock Dairy in Tipton who stated that four men walked up to several dairy employees and demanded their belongings. According to the employees, they handed over their wallets and cell phones to two of the armed suspects.

From there the suspects went across the southern portion of the county, robbing multiple suspects at four other dairies, including dairies located in Pixley, Tulare and Tipton.

Once the deputies realized there was a series of robberies happening, they sent every available unit to the area and contacted other law enforcement agencies.

At the Tulare dairy, the suspects also stole a vehicle, which was later spotted by officers. After a short chase, the stolen vehicle was pulled over and the suspects fled into an orchard. 

At least one of the suspects opened fire at the deputies as the men were chased into a field. According to a news release by the sheriff’s office, deputies returned gunfire. No one was injured in the shootout. 

Deputies then arrested four men, including Agustine Chavez, 24, Ismael Cervantez, 18, as well as two juvenile boys on suspicion of robbery, attempted murder of a police officer and conspiracy to commit a felony.

What to Do After Your Farm Has Been Robbed?

Our homes are our sanctuaries, and our farms are our livelihoods, but unfortunately break-ins can happen. A farm invasion can leave you feeling scared and upset, which are normal feelings after being robbed. Farm Bureau Financial Services provides the following steps after your farm has been broken into.

  1. Immediately Call the Police. If you experience a break-in while you’re at the farm, seek safety for yourself and your employees and can 911 as soon as possible. When the police arrive, provide them with as much information as you can.
  2. Call Your Insurance Company. If someone robs your farm, it’s important to let your insurance agent know about the break-in as soon as possible so the agent can advise you about documenting damage, tallying missing items and making claims.
  3. Document Everything. Take a minute to photograph each room or area after the robbery. Also, jot down what you can remember about timeframes and note what’s missing or broken and anything else related to the incident. Do this as soon as possible because your memory may cloud as time passes.
  4. Call Your Bank. If credit or debit cards were stolen, or if the robbers were able to get access to personal information, call your bank right away. If you discover that your identity has been compromised, call your financial institutions to cancel or temporarily freeze accounts.
  5. Inform Your Neighbors. Often thieves will target another neighborhood for a period of time. Alert surrounding neighbors so they can take extra precautions against a robbery. They may also have seen something suspicious that could help the police with the investigation. Post to a social media page to cast a wider net. 
  6. Talk to Someone. Experiencing anxiety after your home or farm has been robbed is a normal reaction. You might feel a sense of violation you just can’t shake. Talk to a professional or join a group with other people who’ve gone through a similar situation.

The route you take to protect your farmstead and personal property can be simple or high-tech. Purdue University’s Fred Whitford and the University of Missouri’s Mary Sobba offer these suggestions when developing and implementing a farm security plan.

  • Take photos of your equipment, tools and machinery. Capture the serial numbers and any identifying characteristics. This is often quicker and easier than having a written document.
  • Turn off the switch to the fuel tank at night to inhibit someone from pumping out gas.
  • When buying lights, consider ones with timers or sensors. Since they are automatic, no one has to remember to turn them on.
  • Consider installing security cameras. Some systems can text photos to your cellphone if triggered. For ultimate security, have cameras that are monitored by a person.
  • If you can’t make the investment in a full security system, consider installing dummy cameras. Mount them on buildings with wires going inside so they look real. Just the presence of a camera might be enough to dissuade a thief. Also, post signs that your property is monitored by cameras (regardless of whether cameras are real or fake).

 

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