A Soledad man was arrested after investigators linked him to a series of diesel fuel thefts from farms and vineyards across Monterey County, authorities said Wednesday.
Pedro Martinez, 49, was identified as the suspect after the Monterey County sheriff’s detectives installed surveillance cameras at known theft locations and conducted surveillance operations as part of the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.
On Sunday, detectives saw Martinez leaving a vineyard in Soledad shortly after a fuel theft, according to the sheriff’s office. After his arrest, Martinez admitted stealing more than 1,000 gallons of diesel from multiple agricultural properties over an extended period, authorities said.
The total loss exceeded $10,000, officials said.
The sheriff’s office seized Martinez’s truck and a fuel tank. He was booked into Monterey County Jail on suspicion of three counts of grand theft, one count of attempted grand theft and four counts of trespassing, authorities said.