Amarjot Mangat

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Ag Task Force has arrested what it called a “prolific thief” targeting farm operations.

Fresno resident Amarjot Mangat, 29, has been booked into Fresno County Jail. He faces charges of auto theft, grand theft, committing a felony while out on bail and he also had an active warrant related to domestic violence.

His bail is just shy of $500,000.

Around 4:30 am on Thursday, deputies responded to a commercial burglary in progress at a ranch located on the 9600 block of West California Avenue in Fresno.

Employees told deputies they witnessed a man in a water truck stealing diesel fuel from the ranch’s commercial-size tank. Mangat abandoned the water truck and ran away, according to a news release. Deputies searched the area, but were unable to find him.

Shortly after 8:30 am, ag detectives were alerted to a theft in progress of a John Deere tractor valued at $15,000. Detectives responded to the area of Monroe and Church avenues. There they found Mangat seated in the tractor asleep, with the engine still running, according to the release. He was arrested.

A further investigation revealed the water truck, valued at $175,000, was recently stolen from a location in the City of Fresno. It was filled with 200 gallons (approximately $1,200) of diesel that was stolen from the location on West California Avenue The diesel was returned to the ranch and both the water truck and tractor have been returned to their rightful owners.

Fresno police arrested Mangat in February 2022 on charges of grand theft and domestic violence. He posted bond and bailed out of jail after spending less than a day in custody.

That prompted his new charge of committing a felony while out on bail.

Anyone with additional information about Mangat or his associates is asked to please contact the Ag Task Force at (559) 600-8150 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867, valleycrimestoppers.org.