$10,000 in rare bronze train parts stolen from Santa Margarita Ranch, man arrested
A rural Paso Robles man was arrested on suspicion of grand theft and receiving stolen property after allegedly stealing rare train parts from Santa Margarita Ranch.
A San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded Oct. 11 to a report of vandalism and theft at the venue in the 9000 block of Yerba Buena Avenue in Santa Margarita, according to an agency news release.
Santa Margarita Ranch reported that someone had stolen multiple bronze pieces of a steam locomotive train, valued at more than $10,000, the Sheriff’s Office said.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, only eight sets of the “extremely rare” train parts were made — including the set that was taken from Santa Margarita Ranch.
The venue acquired the locomotive parts from train collector Seymour Johnson of Montecito, said Tony Cipolla, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
In addition, two generators, drones and other equipment with an estimated value of approximately $20,000 also went missing from Santa Margarita Ranch, the agency said.
Evidence discovered during the course of the investigation reportedly led deputies to a suspect in rural Paso Robles, later identified as 33-year-old Jacob Scott Johnsen.
Sheriff’s deputies and detectives served a search warrant at a home in the 3000 block of Bridle Trail Lane on Oct. 20, the agency said, finding some stolen items and receipts for recycling centers in Santa Maria and Nevada.
Jacob Scott Johnsen, 33, was arrested by Sheriff’s Office deputies on suspicion of grand theft and receiving stolen property.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, most of the missing train parts — approximately 800 pounds of bronze — were discovered at the Santa Maria recycling center while “several other stolen items” were found at the recycling center in Nevada.
“In all, approximately $20,000 in stolen property was recovered and returned to the rightful owners,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Johnsen was being held midday Tuesday at the San Luis Obispo County Jail, jail records show.
This story was originally published October 26, 2021 at 12:32 PM.
