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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Nov. 16 at about 9 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a call for service regarding theft of fencing from a private property on Central Ave. in McKinleyville.

A concerned citizen reported to the Sheriff’s Office dispatch center that they observed a male and female stealing the fencing from the property and placing it into a tan pickup truck on Nov. 16. Security video footage from a nearby home corroborated the witness statement. Deputies responded to the scene of the theft and contacted the victim. The deputies confirmed that the theft was greater than $950, and a felony theft investigative report was taken.  

Based upon the witness statement and the video evidence, deputies followed up on this investigation by searching various locations in McKinleyville. The deputies subsequently located the suspect’s vehicle at a private residence.  The two suspects caught in the video were contacted and apprehended on scene without incident. The stolen property was recovered and returned to the owner.  

Aaron Gamble, age 39, of McKinleyville, and Lindsey Kauffman, age 39, of McKinleyville, were booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility around 12:15 p.m. on Nov. 16 for Grand Theft (PC487(a)) and Conspiracy to Commit Crime (PC182(a)(1)). Kauffman had an additional charge for Probation Violation (PC 1203.2(a)(2)). 

This case is still under investigation.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.