A Riverside, California man was arrested Friday for theft after authorities discovered 800 pounds of freshly picked lemons in his vehicle.
At approximately 9:45 a.m. Friday, Thermal Station Deputies, assigned to the Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District Team, were investigating recent agricultural thefts from the farming communities of Thermal, Mecca, and Oasis. District Deputies conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Grapefruit Boulevard and Pierce Street, where they found approximately 800 pounds of freshly picked lemons in a vehicle. The fruit had been stolen from a nearby farm.
Dionicio Fierros, age 69 of Los Angeles, was arrested and booked at the Indio Jail for theft of agricultural products.
The lemons were confiscated. The deputies are continuing their investigation into reports of recent agricultural thefts in the area.
