Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Food and Sustainability
  • Business
  •  

Organized 'Tree Nut' Crime Could Be Diminishing

  •  Lesley McClurg 
Monday, November 16, 2015 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Dlvya Thakur/ Flickr
 

Dlvya Thakur/ Flickr

A booming nut industry in California has inspired organized crime. Entire truckloads of almonds, walnuts and pistachios have been disappearing. But, crack downs appear to be reducing the problem.

Suspicious employees at a farm in Tulare County recently stopped a fraudulent trucker from escaping with about 40,000 pounds of freshly harvested pistachios. The crime is called a 'fictitious pick-up.'

"Where somebody poses as a legitimate representative of a trucking company and steals the [entire] cargo," says Dave Kranz with the California Farm Bureau Federation.

He says the pistachios were worth nearly $300,000, and would have likely been sold overseas.

Kranz says stealing a truckload does happen occasionally, but it had been bigger problem a couple of years ago. Now farms have caught on.

"They will photocopy the trucker's driver's license, photograph the driver, photograph the truck; and in some cases they will actually take finger-prints of the drivers."

Kranz says the extra precautions are paying off.

The driver or the pistachio thief was arrested.

The Tulare County Sheriff's office is investigating the incident, and reports fewer cargo thefts this year than last.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 crimealmondscrime prevention

Lesley McClurg

Former Food And Sustainability Reporter

Lesley McClurg reported for Capital Public Radio’s Food and Sustainability through January 2016.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

Most Viewed

One dead, 4 injured in Downtown Sacramento shooting

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

California coronavirus updates: US warily treads forward through another pandemic summer

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases are increasing globally

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

One dead, 4 injured in Downtown Sacramento shooting

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

California coronavirus updates: US warily treads forward through another pandemic summer

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases are increasing globally

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.