2 Men Arrested in Theft of Avocados
Sheriff’s deputies chased and apprehended three Oxnard residents Tuesday as they were stealing 50 pounds of avocados from a ranch in north Oxnard, authorities said.
Carlos Martinez Mendoza, 22, and Gonzalo Arrellano, 24, were arrested and booked into County Jail on suspicion of theft and trespassing. A 13-year-old was cited and released to his parents, authorities said.
Deputies responded to a call of a theft in progress at the Maulhardt Ranch in the 1800 block of Camino Del Sol about 2:30 p.m. Three people fled on foot into the avocado orchard when deputies arrived, but they were soon caught with the help of a dog and police helicopter. One person was found hiding in a pile of leaves, authorities said.
The ranch has been the target of several avocado thefts in the past two weeks, deputies said.
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