Receive alerts from your local agencies
...or text your ZIP CODE to 888777 for mobile alerts

Full Notification

Ventura County Sheriff's Office
Friday January 28th, 2022 :: 12:36 p.m. PST

Community

News Story - Arrest of Potential Catalytic Converter Theft Suspects

Nature of Incident: Arrest of Potential Catalytic Converter Suspects  
 
Report Number: RB #22-8509
Location: 2900 Block of Petit Street
Date & Time: 01/20/2022 @ 9:24 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail (SED), Camarillo Directed Enforcement Unit
 
(S)uspects

City of Residence

 Age
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(S) Kayla Rodriguez  
(S) Javier Plazola
(S) Robert Zaragoza  
                                                                                                             		 Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
 
 
 		  22
 59
 35
 
Narrative:
 
During the past year, law enforcement agencies throughout the State of California have seen a drastic increase in thefts of catalytic converters. The thefts of the catalytic converters are due to precious metals contained inside the catalytic converters. These metals include platinum, palladium or rhodium and garner larger monetary return from scrap yards.
 
The Camarillo Police Department, as well as other law enforcement agencies throughout Ventura County, are also experiencing the rise in catalytic converter thefts. In an attempt to combat these crimes, the Camarillo Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit and Directed Enforcement Unit began late night enforcement solely directed to combating catalytic converters thefts.
 
On the evening of January 20, 2022, a member of the Camarillo Police Department’s Directed Enforcement Unit located a suspicious vehicle in the 2900 block of Petit Street. Additional units arrived to conduct surveillance on the suspicious vehicle and ultimately conducted a traffic enforcement stop on the vehicle.
 
During the traffic enforcement stop, three Los Angeles County residents were contacted in the vehicle. Although no catalytic converters were located in the vehicle, all three occupants were arrested for various narcotics related crimes and one occupant had an outstanding felony warrant for vehicle theft.  During subsequent interviews, one of the arrestees confirmed the group was in the area to commit thefts of catalytic converters but had been arrested before any theft(s) were committed.
 
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is diligently working towards curbing the thefts of catalytic converters. In conjunction with the directed enforcement, detectives are requesting that anyone who observes suspicious vehicles or subjects promptly call and report the activity to law enforcement. Additionally, many residences are now equipped with personal surveillance cameras such as the Ring security systems. Detectives are requesting any residents who may have captured any crimes or suspicious behavior possibly associated with any crimes contact law enforcement or report it at the below listed telephone number or agency email.
 
The Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail is comprised of six plain clothes detectives whose efforts focus on issues that negatively affect the quality of life of the law-abiding citizens of Camarillo. The goal of Camarillo SED is to reduce property and violent crime through investigations and directed enforcement.
 
Anyone with information about criminal activity occurring within the city of Camarillo is encouraged to contact the Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail (SED) at (805) 388-5100. Callers can remain anonymous. Information can also be provided by email at [email protected].
 
 
Prepared by: Sergeant Brian Whittaker  
News Release Date: 01/26/2022  
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Brian Whittaker  
(805) 388-5140		  
Approved by: Captain Shane Matthews  
           
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
 
 

Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511

More Messages

See more messages from Ventura, California »

Navigate & Discover