Location: 3700 Block of Road 40, Alpaugh

City: Alpaugh

Posted by: Media Relations

DISGRACEFUL: Thieves Steal Fallen Porterville Firefighter's Truck with Remembrance Signs Inside

 

Just before 11:15 on Tuesday, Detectives with the Tulare Regional Auto Theft Task Force (TRATT), which includes members of the Tulare County Sheriff's Office, were called to a canal in the 3700 Block of Road 40 in Alpaugh for a suspicious vehicle that appeared to be stripped. 

When they arrived, TRATT Detectives were able to identify the vehicle as a Chevrolet Silverado that was reported stolen out of Delano on May 15th. The vehicle, which previously belonged to fallen Porterville Fire Captain Ray Figueroa, who was killed battling the Porterville Library Fire earlier this year, now belongs to his father. When the vehicle was stolen outside the Delano Home Depot, there were two metal signs inside that had been made in honor of Captain Figueroa and Firefighter Patrick Jones, the other firefighter killed in the fire.

TRATT Detectives were able to find the two metal signs a few hundred feet away from the vehicle. But they were badly damaged and no longer usable. 

This case remains under investigation. Anyone with  information is encouraged to contact Detective Renard of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 687-7004 or anonymously at tcso@tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at (559) 725-4194.