Aluminum irrigation system stolen from Halifax Co.  farm

By Denice Thibodeau
Danville Register & Bee
Published: August 13, 2008

Ken Daniel is beyond upset, about $3,000 beyond, since thieves stole the aluminum pipes from his farm’s irrigation system Sunday night.

Daniel said he went to turn the sprinklers on at Daniel Sod Farm in Sutherlin on Monday morning and nothing happened.

“This wasn’t pipes stored on the ground or in a trailer, it was the installed system,” Daniel said. “Somebody planned this thing out. It was very brazen.”

Daniel said a neighbor told him she saw a red and black pickup truck at the side of the road at the farm at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday, but thought nothing of it. Daniel said whoever was in the truck had to be feeling pretty confident, because there’s only one way in and one way out of the farm.

“She figured it was me or a worker,” Daniel said. “She’s used to seeing different vehicles at all hours.”

The thieves took 27 aluminum pipes that are 20 feet long, but left behind the ones that are 30 feet long.

“I guess those were too long for their truck or trailer,” Daniel said, adding that the suspects had to have plenty of time to complete the theft. “These are big pipes, six inches around, and they have to be unclamped. It took some time.”

Daniel said the incident has been reported to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, and that he is offering a $500 reward for the identity of the suspect or suspects. Daniel said anyone with information about the crime can call him at his office at (434) 753-1165 or call the sheriff’s office at (434) 476-3394.

“I just want other farmers to know this is happening, that they are taking irrigation pipes right out of the field,” Daniel said. “I wish I’d read about it last week — I’d have secured it by cabling it tree to tree.”

Lt. Col. Ronnie Simpson with the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office said there have been a few instances of aluminum irrigation systems being stolen in the county. Simpson suggests people keep a close eye on the pipes because it’s hard to identify those that may have been stolen.

• Staff writers Sarah Arkin and Bernard Baker contributed to this report.

• Contact Denice Thibodeau at or (434) 791-7985.