Fresno County Sheriff's Ag Task Force says someone stole two tractors and then used them to destroy thousands of dollars in crops in Firebaugh. (KFSN)
Updated 39 mins ago
FIREBAUGH, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno County Sheriff's Ag Task Force says someone stole two tractors and then used them to destroy thousands of dollars in crops in Firebaugh.
According to deputies, around 8:00 a.m. they received a call about a stolen tractor at Brannon and Nees Avenues. The suspect placed the tractor into "creeper mode", which allowed it to move on its own at a slow pace, and then jumped from it letting it plow through six miles of fields. The tractor finally came to a stop in a dry canal near Nees and Jerrold Avenues. According to authorities, the tractor destroyed crops such as tomatoes, cotton, asparagus, peppers and pistachio trees.
The tractor was recovered and returned to its owner undamaged.
Deputies then received a call of another tractor that had been stolen at the corner of Fairfax and Nees Avenues. This tractor was used to run over pistachio trees recently planted on the farm.
The tractor was later found pinned up against a bulldozer. It had suffered about $2,500 worth of damage according to deputies.
Anyone with information on these cases is asked to please contact the Sheriff's Office.