Location: Wasco

Incident Date: 4/25/18

Incident Time: 1615 hours

Case Number: 18-04706

Victim: multiple agriculture producers

City: Wasco

Posted by: Media Relations

Grand theft

Over the past three weeks, Agriculture Producers in the southern portion of Tulare County have been victimized by the theft of thousands of brass irrigation valves. Multiple victims reported to the Sheriff’s Office that unknown suspect(s) entered vineyards and orchards where they then removed brass T-shaped valves from standpipe irrigation systems. 

 

Detectives began conducting compliance checks of recycling centers in both Tulare and Kern Counties. Detectives located and recovered approximately 700 valves and the cast iron lids they were once attached to. Detectives obtained information that identified Patricio Esparo Reyes as the person who was recycling the valves and cast iron lids. Detectives again met with several of the victims, who were able to positively identify the valves as belonging to them at which time the valves were returned to their rightful owners. 

 

On 4-25-18, Detectives conducted a coordinated surveillance detail where specific locations were actively being observed. Detectives observed the suspect identified as Patricio Esparo Reyes arrive at a Kern County recycle center at which time he was arrested based on evidence obtained during the course of this investigation.

At the time of his arrest, Reyes was actively wanted for an unrelated case and was subsequently placed under arrest for the active warrant. An additional arrest warrant was served as a passenger with Reyes was also wanted. This person was issued a citation to appear in court and was released from the scene. Ultimately, Reyes was booked at the Adult Pre-Trail Facility for felony grand theft charges related to seven separate theft investigations. 

    

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Det. J. Nicholson, or Sgt. Rhyman with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Ag Crimes Investigations Unit at (559) 802-9563. They can also call 24 hours a day at (559) 733-6218 or anonymously through our TipNow Program at (559) 725-4194 or tcso@tipnow.com.