On 8/1/21, at about 0230 hours, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers observed a gray colored sedan speeding on the highway. The CHP initiated a traffic stop and the vehicle yielded at Wendy Drive near the US 101, in Newbury Park. When the vehicle stopped, the front passenger fled on foot. The CHP officer pursued the suspect for a short distance before the suspect gave up and was arrested without incident. The suspect was identified as Brian Lopez.
At the vehicle, another CHP officer had detained two subjects, the driver was identified as Gabriel Dekker and a juvenile male. While talking to the subjects, the officer noticed several saw blades, gloves, and tool kits in the vehicle.
Thousand Oaks patrol deputies were requested to respond to the location for assistance in the investigation. Officers searched the vehicle and located five recently cut catalytic converters, an industrial car jack, and a battery powered reciprocating saw in the trunk of the vehicle.
The subjects were placed under arrest. Dekker and Lopez were booked at the Ventura County Main Jail and the juvenile was lodged at Juvenile Hall.
Dekker was arrested for conspiracy to commit grand theft, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Dekker has an arraignment date of 8/3/21, and his bail was set at $200,000
Camarillo Detectives learned of the arrest and were able to link the three suspects to a catalytic converter theft that occurred in July at the Home Depot in Camarillo. Camarillo Detectives charged Dekker with conspiracy to commit grand theft. Dekker’s arraignment date is set for 8/4/21, and his bail was set at $250,000.
Bryon Lopez was arrested and booked for conspiracy to commit grand theft, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, and an outstanding felony warrant for conspiracy to commit grand theft. Lopez has an arraignment date of 8/3/21, and his bail is set at $220,000.
Camarillo Detectives arrested Lopez for conspiracy to commit grand theft. The arraignment is set for 8/4/21, and his bail was set at $250,000.
The juvenile male was lodged at the Juvenile Justice Complex and charged with conspiracy to commit grand theft, possession of burglary tools, and possession of stolen property.
Thousand Oaks detectives are actively seeking to identify the victims of the catalytic converters located in the suspect vehicle.
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