SP man one of three arrested in suspected metal theft attempt at oilfield

October 10, 2008
Santa Paula News

Three men, one a Santa Paulan, were arrested after posing as workers in a failed alleged attempt to steal almost $30,000 worth of recyclable metals from a Fillmore area oilfield.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThree men, one a Santa Paulan, were arrested after posing as workers in a failed alleged attempt to steal almost $30,000 worth of recyclable metals from a Fillmore area oilfield. The incident occurred Sunday, October 5, according to a Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman.An employee of Seneca Resources Company called the VCSD at about 11:37 p.m. and reported he had spotted three men using a rented truck and forklift to take large metal parts from oil pumps at the company’s facility on Squaw Flat Road, located in the mountains above Fillmore. When the employee confronted the men, they pretended to be workers from another Seneca oilfield.
The Seneca employee, knowing the company had no lease on the property the men identified, grew suspicious and called the VCSD. Deputies arrived on the scene in time to watch the men using the forklift to move oil pump pieces into the truck. They had allegedly already placed about $28,000 worth of metal parts into the truck when stopped by deputies and arrested.Joseph Hermosillo, 30, of Santa Paula, Brian Miller, 32, of Oxnard, and Christopher Rail, 27, of Oxnard, were arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail on suspicion of grand theft, conspiracy and trespassing. The investigation is continuing.



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