Three Arrested in Kings County for Alleged Theft of Ag Equipment, Copper Wire
Above: Stolen Items | Courtesy of KCSO
Kings County authorities recently arrested three individuals in connection with the alleged theft of agricultural equipment and copper wire.
On Monday, June 17, at approximately 9 a.m., Kings County Sheriff deputies responded to a reported burglary at an agricultural shop near 25th Ave. and Grangeville Boulevard, the Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
Surveillance footage from the shop reportedly showed four individuals breaking into the shop and stealing over $2,000 in agricultural equipment.
Detectives from the Kings County Rural Crimes Unit, along with an investigator from the Kings County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the Rural Crimes Unit, reportedly identified one of the individuals as Carlos Eduardo Mendoza-Rodriguez, 34.
On June 27, authorities located and arrested Mendoza-Rodriguez at his residence in Hanford, the Sheriff’s Office said.
During the arrest, detectives allegedly discovered approximately a thousand pounds of copper wire in Mendoza-Rodriguez’s garage and in several vehicles on the property.
Detectives confirmed that the copper wire had been reported stolen from another agricultural shop in Fresno County.
At the residence, detectives identified a second suspect in the burglary as Va Chhim, 40, of Fresno.
A third individual, Kevin Ramirez Garcia, 26, was allegedly found to be in possession of the copper wire and suspected methamphetamine.
All suspects were arrested and booked into the Kings County Jail on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of stolen property, and possession of a controlled substance, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
