The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department announced that detectives of the Stanislaus County Auto Theft Taskforce (STANCATT) recently received information that a stolen John Deere tractor, stolen from a job site in Livermore, was in the 6000 block of River Road in Oakdale.

On Tuesday, Dec. 27 2016, detectives went to the residence to follow up on the information and when they were at the property, Pedro Becerra, 39, pulled up in a vehicle. When Becerra saw the detectives at the residence, he immediately fled to a nearby shopping center where he was taken into custody.

While on the property, STANCATT Investigators and Sheriff’s Rural Crimes Detectives conducted a probation search of the residence. The stolen John Deere tractor was inside an outbuilding and was in the process of being dismantled, authorities said.

Becerra was arrested for vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, operating a chop shop and violation of probation.

The stolen tractor was returned to the owner.