Full Notification

Over the past few years the City of Simi Valley has been targeted by burglary crews consisting of gang members throughout the Southern California area. This type of activity has become known as “flocking” as the gang members flock to what they consider to be affluent neighborhoods for the purpose of committing burglaries. These suspects will generally knock on the front door of neighborhood homes. Once they are convinced that the home is unoccupied they will move to the backyard and gain entry through a window or patio door, usually by smashing the glass.
On 2/15/18 members of the SVPD Detective unit accompanied by officers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Burglary Robbery Task Force as well as The California Highway Patrol’s Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force, were conducting surveillance of a “flocking” crew. This particular crew was believed to be responsible for crimes in the cities of Simi Valley and Moorpark, with losses totaling between 40 and 50 thousand dollars. During the surveillance, the suspects who were travelling in a 2003 Mercedes C230, were seen knocking on doors in Simi Valley. At one location the suspects actually made contact with a resident. This contact most likely prevented a burglary.
The suspects then continued travelling and eventually stopped in the area of Princeton Ave. and Westwood St., in the city of Moorpark. While in this area the suspects committed a burglary by entering the backyard of a residence and smashing a rear glass slider door. They then returned to their vehicle and fled the area, eventually stopping at the Target store located at 800 New Los Angeles Ave., in Moorpark. The suspects went into the Target store and after a short period of time exited the establishment and entered their vehicle. At that point the suspects were taken into custody.
The suspects were identified as 21 year Derrion Sanders and 19 year old Nazarius Teh. Two juveniles were also arrested. The juveniles were 14 and 15 years old, therefore their identities and photos are not being released. All four suspects are from Palmdale, California. The juveniles were lodged at the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Center. The adults were booked into the Ventura County Jail. Sanders was booked in-lieu of 1.75 million dollars bail, while Teh’s bail was set at 1 million dollars. All were booked under a variety of charges including Burglary, Attempted Burglary and Contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Enhancements were added for gang and gang coercion violations.
The Simi Valley Police Department would like to remind our residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to the police department.