Tulare County sheriff’s detectives arrested a man Thursday accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of oranges from groves near Lindsay, authorities said.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office said detectives with its Ag Crimes Unit arrested Julio Cesar Zepeda after farmers in the area of Road 204 and Avenue 216 used game cameras to capture images of suspected thefts.

Farm owners installed the cameras after noticing an unknown vehicle in their orange groves, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

On Wednesday, the cameras captured Zepeda and two other people loading oranges into the bed of a truck, authorities said.

Investigators estimate Zepeda stole a total of five bins of Valencia oranges, resulting in an estimated loss of $2,000.

Zepeda was booked into the Tulare County South County Detention Facility on charges including grand theft and conspiracy, along with unrelated charges.

Got a Tip?

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Sgt. Bryan De Hann or Detective Tim Holdbrooks with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 733-6218.

Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling or texting (559) 725-4194 or emailing tcso@tipnow.com.

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