FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives arrested 35-year-old Joe Ramos Florez of Dinuba in connection with several school-site burglaries.
On August 2nd, deputies tried to stop a stolen red Chevrolet pickup near Manning and Englehart avenues in Reedley.
The driver stopped, ran into an orchard, and was not found.
Deputies recovered about $25,000 in power tools from the truck and returned the vehicle to its owner. The tools were stored as evidence.
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Later that day, a contractor at the site of the future Clovis South High School reported that a storage container had been broken into and most of its tools stolen.
Detectives matched those tools to the ones recovered from the truck and returned them to the contractor.
Detectives identified Ramos Florez as the driver and suspect, served search warrants, and arrested him.
They also linked him to burglaries at Clovis East High School and Lemoore High School, along with an attempted burglary at Fowler High School.
He faces burglary, stolen-property, and drug-possession charges. Bail was set at $15,000, and he has since bonded out.
This remains an ongoing investigation. Detectives believe Ramos Florez worked with others to commit these thefts.
If you have information about anyone involved, please contact Detective Leonard Romero at (559) 600-8711.
You may also submit tips to Valley Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP or online at www.valleycrimestoppers.org.
You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Reference case #26-9006. See less