Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Crime Prevention Unit deputies assisted Santa Clarita City Code Enforcement officials with an operation targeting illegal food vendors on Thursday night.

Deputies conducted the operation after numerous residents relayed complaints and public health concerns.

Here’s more of the story from the station’s social media:

“A (food) vendor operating illegally was found near Pine and Newhall Avenue. The couple from Los Angeles running it was preparing and selling food without a health department permit and without a city-issued vending permit. They were issued an administrative citation and asked to leave.

“Approximately 45 minutes later, deputies checked back and the couple had brazenly set up shop in the very same place.

“This time, administrative citations were issued with a higher fine and citations for their vehicles which were parked in designated ‘no parking’ zones.

“Some may ask what the problem is with these kinds of food establishments. Here’s the thing — you don’t want to compromise when it comes to food safety, because your health is at stake.

“Health concerns commonly associated with illegal food vendors:

* No electricity
* No handwashing stations
* No dish sinks
* No refrigeration or hot holding equipment
* No thermometers
* Vermin and insects
* No method of tracing food back to its original source
* No food safety training for employees

“There is an elevated risk for illness to be transmitted through food sold in this manner.

“We care about keeping you safe from crime, and we care about your health too. We will run more operations in the near future to scout out food vendors operating illegally, compromising our community’s well-being.”