FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — Over a million dollars’ worth of stolen farming equipment has been returned to its owners after a 5-day investigation.
The Fresno County Air units have been flying over multiple fields after several reports of stolen farming equipment.
On Thursday, deputies recovered a 2026 John Deere tractor and a 2026 Flory almond conditioner that were stolen from the Mendota area.
The estimated value of the equipment was $265,000.
On Saturday, deputies recovered a stolen 2019 John Deere tractor and a 2026 Flory almond conditioner.
The equipment was reported to be stolen from the Yuba and Shields Avenues area and recovered in a field northwest of Kerman.
A stolen Jack Rabbit almond harvester was also found in the area from a different case.
The estimated value of the equipment recovered was $350,000.
On Monday, deputies recovered a stolen 2021 John Deere tractor, a 2016 Flory almond harvester, and a Jack Rabbit almond harvester.
The equipment was found in an orchard field southwest of Kerman.
The total estimated value of the three pieces of equipment is $460,000.
All farming equipment has been returned to its proper owner.
Deputies are still searching for who was responsible for stealing all the equipment.
Deputies also want to inform farmers that more equipment could still be left abandoned in orchards.
Farmers are encouraged to take inventory and report any missing equipment to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-8150.