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Hot Topics - Theft Reports
    Terri Cook's theft report - Nov 2008
     
   
Date:
  Monday 12/1/08
Company:
  Estrada's Palms of La Puente
Location:
  7735 Bradwell Avenue, Whittier, CA 90606
Description:
 

Chamaerop Humilis valued at $350.00 each.
Each of the palms taken were ripped out of their boxes and the dirt was shaken off so it was easy for them to be carried.

Each palm had at least 5 ft of trunk with multiple pups on the bottom.

Value:
  $1,050.00.
Police Report:
  Pico Rivera Sheriff was called and Deputies Cisneros and Marquez took the report. File No. 408-11355-1576-089
     
   
Date:
  Saturday 11/29/08
Company:
  El Modeno Gardens
Location:
  15775 Lake Mathews Drive, Riverside, CA
Description:
 

2 ATV vehicles

Thieves cut through a fence gaining entrance to our field tractor / ATV area and pushed 2 ATV's out.

Actions taken: reinforced fencing / planted cactus around the perimeter of this area

Value:
  aprox. $800 per each
Police Report:
  Reported to Riverside Sherriff / report numbers: PC08336008 & PC08336012
     
   
Date:
  Monday 11/24/08 into Tuesday 11/25/08
Company:
  Nakase Brothers
Location:
  19190 Bushard in Huntington Beach , CA
Description:
  Over 18,000 liners stolen:
Raphiolepis Pink Lady 1344 liners
Raphiolepis Jack Evans 560 liners
Buxus Japonica 1736 liners
Euonymus Patens Manhatan 1232 liners
Liriope Japonica 6720 liners
Cupressus Sempervirens 4592 liners
Platycladus Aurea Nana 560 liners
Pinus Eldarica 448 liners
Euonymus Microph Variegata 504 liners
Juniper Proc Nana 336 liners
Value:
  $15,000 +
Police Report:
  Huntington Beach Police Report: #08-20706, Officer Laz #1114
     
   
Date:
  Saturday 10/18/08
Company:
  Rainbow Garden Nursery
Location:
  1132 S. Grand Avenue in Glendora, CA
Description:
  7-20 gallon multi trunk King Palms
3-24" box Phoenix roebelenii
16-5 gallon Rhaphiolepis umbellata 'Gulf Green'
Value:
  $4,650.00
Police Report:
  Glendora Police Dept. - report #086300
     
   
Date:
  Thursday 10/16/08
Company:
  Normans Nursery
Location:
  1150 S. Broadway San Gabriel, CA
Description:
  310 – 5g Camellias, Mrs. Tingley.
Value:
  $4,000
Police Report:
  County of LA Sheriff’s Report Number 408-15123-0586-089
     
   
Date:
  Sometime overnight from 10/5/08 to 10/6/08
Company:
  Village Nurseries Wholesale, LLC
Location:
  1582 N. Tustin Avenue
Orange, CA 92867
Description:
 

20 bags Growmore 20-20-20;20 bags Growmore 20-10-20; 15 bags Growmore 15-5-15; 30 bags Apex 21-5-6; 50 bags Hydroform 38-0-0

Value:
  $5,000.00
Police Report:
  Orange Police Department #08-10-0281
     
   
Date:
  Sometime between Saturday 10/4/08 and Monday 10/6/08
Company:
  Valley Crest Tree Company
Location:
  Sylmar, CA
Description:
  1998 Ford F150 – white pick up with red Valley Crest Company logos on side doors and ‘How’s my Driving” decal on the rear tailgate, License #5U23332
Miscellaneous tools also stolen.
Value:
  $5000 for vehicle, $100 for tools for a total of $5,100.00
Police Report:
  ILAPD File #08-19-23876
     
   
Date:
  Monday 9/22/08
Company:
  Normans Nursery
Location:
  Arrow Hwy yard in Irwindale, CA
Description:
  100 5g Queen Palms; 20 15g Queen Palms
Value:
  $2,900.00
Police Report:
  Irwindale Police Report # 08-1603
     
   
Date:
  Friday 9/19/08
Company:
  SY Nursery
Location:
  19900 Pioneer Blvd. Cerritos, CA
Description:
  2005 Hyundai Forklift – Orange – model #HDF25
Value:
  $15,000
Police Report:
  #40804207-2313-097
     
   
Date:
  Sunday 9/19/08
Company:
  Altman Specialty Plants
Location:
  Riverside
Description:
 

From what we figure, the keys had been left in the truck on a regular basis. In talking with the security guards, they didn’t see anyone the night before or the night of the theft. There have been other times when they have found people on site and they have told these individuals that they had to leave. They didn’t dial 9-1-1 as they had been instructed. Normally, they will check the site for the vehicles as part of their normal routine. They didn’t do this with the water truck. I will be giving both of them a written warning for:

1. Not calling 9-1-1 on other days when they have found strangers on site
2. Not checking the site for the water truck when they arrived.

The other changes we have implemented:

1.All equipment is being parked in one specific site. This will allow for easier monitoring by security.

2.Anyone who needs to drive one of these pieces of equipment will have to check the key out and in from the office. Only Michelle, Sindy, Kathy the supervisors, managers and myself will be allowed to check a key out.

3. The Security Log sheets will be modified to have a list of all equipment with a spot to write the times they check on the equipment (hourly).

4. Pictures will be taken of all equipment to have on file.

5. In time, we will have driver’s licenses for those who are authorized to drive this equipment

6. We will modify the security schedule to have someone here during the day on Sunday when only irrigators are here.

7. will work with Luis to incorporate the above in to TL also

Last night, around 6:45 p.m., I received a call from Balta telling me that Adalin, the dock lead, called him because there were three men in a jeep shooting guns in the planting area and in Quintero’s fields. I called the Sheriff immediately and instructed Adalin to take his crew and lock themselves in the office. Due to the danger, Adalin didn’t approach these men too closely. Unfortunately, it took around 1 hour for the Sheriff to get to the site. They spoke with Adalin and then left without checking the facilities. I called the Sheriff again and asked them to check the facilities. They dispatched another unit but by that time the men had left. In looking at all of the facilities (vehicles, houses, etc.), we don’t see any evidence of damage. However, we did find a lot of shells from a shot gun that weren’t here on Tuesday afternoon. These were found in Quintero’s fields, Balta’s upper fields and near house

We also found some live shot gun bullets. I gave these to the Sheriff this morning also. I filled out a request with the Sheriff’s Dept. for extra patrols for the site, both on Sundays and at night. They will do this as time allows. I also asked the Deputy if 1 hour is the average/normal amount of time to expect a response from the Sheriff. He said yes, it depends on the amount of other calls. Knowing this now, if a similar situation occurs, I will have employees evacuate the premises until the Sheriff arrives to remove them from any danger. I know they were scared last night. I would like to install a surveillance system. John is going to talk to the surveillance company to see how much a system might cost and then I will review this with Matt to make the final determination of what we install.

Value:
   
Police Report:
  Riverside Sheriff #PC08259038
     
   
Date:
  Sunday 8/10/08
Company:
  Norman's Nursery Inc
Location:
  Broadway Propagation Yard 8550 Broadway San Gabriel, Ca.
Description:
 

Gate was cut between Norman's Nursery Inc and small nursery next to us.

7,580 liners and 100 1g were stolen

650 liners Pennisetum cupreum
580 liners Coprosma repens variegata
500 liners Cotoneaster apiculatus
500 liners Escallonia fradesii
1,500 liners Liriope Silver Dragon
500 liners Lagerstroemia Tuscarora
2,000 liners Ficus repens
500 liners Azalea Hahn’s Red
500 liners Azalea Formosa
500 liners Azalea Alaska
100 1g Ophiopogon japonicas

Value:
  Estimated value of $4,610.00
Police Report:
  LA Sherriff Report Number pending. Temple City Station.
     
   
Date:
  June 2, 2008
Company:
   Centeno’s Nursery & Landscape
Location:
  17503 S. Main Street, Carson, CA  
Description:
  500 1gallon (out of container); Black mondo grass 480 4” Mondo grass; 1 Felco hand saw 2 Backpack sprayers; 7- 50lb Bags Osmocote Fertilizer; 8- 50lb Bags Woodace 20-5-5 Fertilizer
Value:
  $5,250
Police Report:
 
   
   
Date:
  June 1, 2008
Company:
  Pinery Tree Farm
Location:
  13701 Highland Valley Road;Escondido, CA 92025
Description:
 

24' Ryder bobtail, 2005 Freightliner, rental with lift gate and removable

stacking racks; Vehicle had Ryder markings; Unit # 426327; California license plate # 7S46772

Value:
 

$40,000 - $45,000

Police Report:
  San Diego Police
     
   
Date:
  Late May
Company:
  Kitayama Bros. Greenhouses
Location:
  Watsonville, CA
Description:
  aluminum flower troughs worth about $3 a foot. It was one of the largest ag. thefts in recent Santa Cruz County history
Value:
  $190,000
Police Report:
  The Santa Cruz sheriff believes the thieves took the metal to a recycler.
     

Date:
  May 21, 2008
Company:
  Pardee Tree Nursery
Location:
 

Oceanside, CA

Description:
  Theft of 5000 – 1”x1”x5’ wooden stakes and 3000 – 1”x1”x6’ wooden stakes
Value:
  $2937
Police Report:
   
     

Date:
  May 11, 2008
Company:
  MB Nursery
Location:
  Figueroa Street, Gardena CA 90248
Description:
  30-15g Ficus; 30-15g roebelini; 2-24"Sago palm
Value:
  $3,500
Police Report:
  Carson Sheriff Dept
     

Date:
  May 11, 2008
Company:
  Performance Nurery
Location:
  Stockton Road, Somis, CA 93066
Description:
  844 new 15g cans: 4480 new 5g cans; 5652 new 1g cans
Value:
  $5,000
Police Report:
  no
     

Date:
  April 27, 2008
Company:
  Maddock Ranch Nursery
Location:
  Sterling View Drive, Fallbrook, CA 92028
Description:
  5,000 new 15g cans w/unusual hole pattern;20 bags urea fertilizer;1988 Ford 3/4 ton diesel pickup
Value:
  $3,500
Police Report:
  no
     

Date:
  April 27, 2008
Company:
  Maddock Ranch Nursery
Location:
  Sterling View Drive, Fallbrook, CA 92028
Description:
 

5,000 new 15g cans w/unusual hole pattern;20 bags urea fertilizer;1988 Ford 3/4 ton diesel pickup

Value:
  $15 - $18,000
Police Report:
  no
     

Date:
  April 20, 2008
Company:
  El Nativo Growers, Inc.
Location:
  South Peckham Road, Azusa, CA 91702
Description:
 

1,000's of 4"x3.5" Anigozanthos of various colors, 100's pf Rhus integrifolia rosepots, 100-1,000's of other rosepots - unknown species, 24' Bobtail truck - loaded with stolen material

Value:
   
Police Report:
  Azusa PD
     
Representing California's Horticultural Growers