Pair Arrested After Stealing $40,000 Worth Of Motors

Two men, who deputies said stole expensive farming equipment to recycle it for money, were behind bars on Wednesday.

Sgt. Jeronimo Contreras said David Olalde, 49, of Thermal, and Jorge Rodriguez, 31, of Mecca, were arrested on Tuesday after deputies searched their homes and found the stolen motors.

The equipment was stolen from California Ready Date on the 87000 block of Airport Boulevard in Thermal and were worth an estimated $40,000, Contreras said.

Investigators found the motors at a local recycling yard.

Anyone with information regarding this incident or any other metal thefts in the Southern Coachella Valley is encouraged to contact District deputies, or investigators from the Indio Station at 760-863-8990 or by calling the Valley Crime Stoppers program at 760-341-7867 (STOP).