South Sound ranches are losing thousands of dollars to a unique crime: thieves ordering up hundreds of bales of hay, only for the charges to be reported as fraud.

It started like any other at Kimball’s Ranch in Yelm. A new client began ordering truckloads of hay on a credit card.

“We delivered about 460 bales,” Stephanie Kimball said.

The ranch has been in her family for generations. It’s a labor of love.

Crews with the ranch made about four deliveries before getting an unusual call: the charges had been labeled as fraud.

Between product, delivery, and labor, the ranch was out around $10,000.

“A small farming business, it’s a large impact for us,” she said.

Kimball’s Ranch wasn’t the only one targeted.

“Everything was checking out really nice,” Jacob Moody with EPH Hay & Cattle sai

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