A well known Gridley farmer gave chase to a small car Monday that had four adult occupants in it after he caught them in his walnut orchard west of town.
He had to give up the chase when the car reached speeds of 70 mpg while approaching Gridley residential streets.
The driver of the car was a female.
Stories such as this don't surprise us, as we hear how bad the economy is and how people must survive.
Stealing is, however, not the answer. As people get more frustrated with thieves, the consequences could become dangerous. Why people think it is acceptable to steal another person's livelihood, is beyond our comprehension. The farmers have to deal with inclement weather and low prices year after year, as it is, they don't need to worry about theft.
As in the District 10 case, where ten Gridley adults were arrested on felony charges Sunday, it was an alert neighbor who called the landowner, who then called police.
It is a felony when produce items valued at $100 or more, are stolen from a farmer.
In another orchard on Monday, a farmer observed three women in his orchard stealing walnuts and chased them off, again in broad daylight. These women were driving a red Dodge Caravan and the farmer was able to call in the license plate number.
On Tuesday, an alert neighbor on Larkin Road called a resident who was working to tell them that someone was picking their walnuts up without permission. They returned after they had been chased off once.
It is advised to call law enforcement with descriptions, rather than just chasing the thieves off.
Keep an eye out for your neighbors. If you see something suspicious, call the Butte County Sheriff's Department at 538-7911 or the Gridley-Biggs Police Department at 846-5678, who often assists the Sheriff's Department when unavailable.
