Full Notification

Simi Valley Police Officers arrested the driver of a stolen vehicle after a relative of the owner saw it being driven in Simi Valley around 5:30 today. Officer sprang into action and detained the driver and 3 passengers on the 23 Freeway at Olsen Road. Nobody was injured during the arrest.

Early this morning, Simi Valley Police Department Officers responded to a stolen vehicle report in the Wood Ranch area of the City. The residents reported the green Ford Ranger Extra-Cab truck as being stolen sometime last night into the morning hours.

The reporting party told the police the keys to the vehicle had been stolen a week earlier when they were left inside the unlocked car as it sat parked in an area open to the public. They reported the theft of keys to the Police Department.

It appears that the keys in the truck today were in fact the keys that were taken in last week's theft. The driver of the truck would not say where he got the keys.

Inside the truck were 2 females and another male. They were released after being interviewed.

The Simi Valley Police Department wants to remind citizens that the number 1 way to become a victim is to leave your property unlocked or inside a vehicle in plain view. Our recommendation is to "harden the target" and make it hard for the criminal element to steal property in the city.

Arrested: Jeffrey Joseph Clarke, 20 years of age; Simi Valley Resident.

Charges: 10851 (a) VC Unlawful taking or driving of a motor vehicle.
2 Misdemeanor Warrants for drug related charges.