Thieves targeting pesticides to resell to marijuana growers

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Valley farmers are now working to combat thieves targeting their property for pesticides.

"It's frustrating. It's one of those things we have to try and prevent it as best as we can," said Brad Weis.

Weis and his family work hard to farm roughly 800 acres of alfalfa, cotton and almonds in Kerman. He's upset burglars are now targeting his land. The farmer showed us the storage room thieves broke into over the weekend and stole thousands of dollars' worth of pesticides. Weis says this isn't the first time they've broken in.

Sgt. Ryan Hushaw says there's a black market where the chemicals are resold to other farmers or even marijuana growers.

"The marijuana growers want to go as undetected as possible so rather than purchasing bulk quantities of chemical and pesticides they will go and steal them," said Hushaw.

Sgt. Hushaw believes pot growers want pesticides for the same reasons as all Valley farmers.

"Growing marijuana albeit illegal they are still conducting a growing operation and the same chemicals and pesticides can work for their operation," added Sgt. Hushaw.

He's now encouraging those in the Ag industry to lock up pesticides on your property and do not buy any surplus.

"Basically order the number of pesticides or herbicides that are necessary for that job at that given time and not to keep extra chemical on hand because that makes you more likely to be a victim of a theft crime," said Sgt. Hushaw.

The Weis family now has a ranch hand living on site.

"Since then we haven't had any problems he's got dogs that bark and he's keeping an eye on it much better than we had before," said Weis.

Deputies are still working with the Weis family to find the suspects who escaped from their property.