Three people suspected of stealing or damaging roughly $4,000 worth of produce in San Joaquin County were arrested this week, the Sheriff’s Office said.

“Three individuals were caught red-handed (and red-fingered) in the middle of stealing cherries,” the Sheriff’s Office posted on social media.

Deputies allegedly uncovered ledgers tying the suspects to a string of similar thefts across several counties. Investigators believe they have been selling stolen fruit at stands around the state.

Arrested were Wei Guo, 64, Jian Huang, 62, and Ling Li, 52. All were booked into jail on suspicion of vandalism, grand theft, and conspiracy to commit a crime. They are each being held on $150,000 bail.

Thousands of dollars in cash were seized and their vehicle was towed as well, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.