Diesel thieves wreak havoc on California farmers - CNN.com

Diesel thieves wreak havoc on California farmers - CNN.com

"'It's an epidemic, gigantic problem,' Sgt. Walt Reed of the Kern County Sheriff's Department said. 'In Kern County alone, we're getting reports of five to seven diesel thefts from farms a week. It's happening in other parts of the San Joaquin Valley, too.'"

Farmers are feeling the pinch as their diesel fuel tanks are being drained by thieves who resell the fuel for a quick profit. What's left behind is damaged equipment, spoiled crops and farmers struggling to get by. Who is suspected of buying this elicit diesel? Some say that truckers, also hit hard by this crisis, are purchasing the stolen fuel on the cheap but honestly, it I don't know if it's fair to isolate one group.

Growing up, my family had to contend with vandalism and theft of equipment as well. It's a tremendous shame that the worst in people can come out in a crisis. Hopefully the lowering cost of surveillance equipment can bring more of these crooks to justice.