Smartwater program a success
Tech leads to two arrests Friday morning
Two men were arrested Friday as a result of Smartwater technology, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office reported.
It is the first known case of Smartwater CSI connecting thieves to a crime in Tulare County.
Two suspects were arrested early Friday morning in Tulare for attempting to steal a locomotive train horn valued at approximately $1,000. Smartwater was detected on one of the suspects following a collaboration between the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural Crimes Unit and the Union Pacific Railroad with assistance from the Tulare Police Department.
“Today’s arrests show that Smartwater CSI is a great tool for law enforcement and property owners in Tulare County,” Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said.
Not seen by the naked eye, Smartwater CSI is a silent invisible witness that helps prevent agricultural crimes. This mineralbased liquid has a unique one in a billion code and connects stolen property back to its rightful owner.
Boudreaux introduced Smartwater CSI at a press conference in January at the International Agri-center. He encourages agricultural partners throughout Tulare County to sign up for this product to help deter thefts and solve crimes. So far, more than 300 parties have registered and applied specific Smartwater product to their
properties. None of them have suffered losses.
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Agricultural Crimes Unit was contacted by Union Pacific Railroad officials and asked to assist following a series of previous train horn thefts, six since February.
On Sept. 12, Agricultural Crimes detectives met with railroad officials and Det. Kenny Jones applied Smartwater CSI product to the engine train horn area.
At 1:50 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, two suspects were observed by railroad officials attempting to steal a train horn from one of their parked locomotives on the 2500 block of South K Street in Tulare. Suspect Justin Lira, 20, of Tulare, was contacted by railroad police as he attempted to steal the train horn from a parked locomotive.
His accomplice, Andrew Donaldson, 18, of Tulare, was apprehended a short distance away from the locomotive in Lira’s vehicle.
Both men were taken into custody without incident by railroad officials with assistance from the Tulare Police Department.
Ag Crimes Det. John Nicholson responded to the scene to assist railroad officials with the investigation. Using a special Uvlight specific for detecting Smartwater, Det. Nicholson observed Smartwater product on Lira and on the getaway vehicle.
Lira and Donaldson were transported to the Adult Pre-trial Facility where they were questioned and both admitted to their involvement in the attempted
theft of the train horn.
Both Lira and Donaldson are being charged with suspicion of attempted grand theft and aiding and abetting to commit a felony. Bail was set at $20,000 each.
Sheriff’s Agricultural Crimes detectives continue to educate agricultural partners and related stakeholders about this crime deterrent available to them through the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.
Report crimes and suspicious activity to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 733-6218 or anonymously through Tipnow at 7254194 or tcso@tipnow.com.