SHAFTER, Calif.
Two men were arrested and accused of stealing over 12 tons of almonds from a nut company.
Members of the Kern County Sheriff?s Office Rural Crime Unit began investigating a theft of processed almonds during the first week of September.
During that time, detectives said they determined that Manuel Perez Gutierrez, 38, was in possession of two almond bins containing 4,000 pounds of processed almonds without a receipt.
At that time, detectives said they could only determine that the bins were stolen from Hughson Nut Company.
No victim for the almonds was located, deputies said.
Deputies said on Tuesday that rural crime detectives received information that suspects in the theft of almonds from the Shafter-Wasco Gin in the 1800 block of Gaston Street in the city of Wasco.
This is the same address Gutierrez had provided, deputies said.
Detectives conducted surveillance in the area, and on Thursday, Gutierrez was found to be in possession of two additional bins containing more than 4,000 pounds of processed almonds without a receipt, deputies said.
Detectives were able to determine that Gutierrez and Abran Robles, 26, the night supervisor at the Shafter-Wasco Gin located at 17225 Bender Ave. had conspired over the past two months to steal bins of processed almonds, detectives said.
Detectives said Gutierrez would go to the business late at night and Robles would place the bins into Gutierrez?s truck.
Once the almonds were away from the gin, Gutierrez would place the processed almonds into large plastic bags, and they were then transported to the Los Angeles area for sale, detectives said.
Detectives determined that a minimum of 12 bins of almond have been stolen from the gin this year with an estimated value of $5,000 per bin.
Gutierrez and Robles were arrested on charges of grand theft and conspiracy.
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