A South Tulare County agricultural farm was targeted twice within 48 hours in a copper wire theft that left crops without water and caused significant damage. TJ Singh, the farm manager, said thieves stole copper wire from a water pump on two consecutive occasions, preventing irrigation at a critical time. “We were supposed to have water on the crops 10 days ago. Since this first occurred, we have had our pumps off this whole time, and our trees are struggling,” Singh said. The thefts resulted in more than $20,000 in damage. The stolen copper wire is believed to yield only about $150 when sold, highlighting the disproportionate impact on farmers. Authorities and industry experts say such crimes are increasingly common in agricultural areas.