Moorpark Police Department Stranger Danger Basic Rules to Teach Children

Moorpark Police Department Release Dated 12/19/11

On 12/16/11, Andres Lazaro Bautista, a 49 year old Moorpark resident, was arrested after a two week investigation which indicated Bautista had been annoying young school aged children in the area of downtown Moorpark. Bautista had been making lewd and obscene gestures to girls ranging from the age of 9 years old to 14 years old.

These children had been walking to the bus loading area located at Flory Elementary School. Bautista committed these crimes towards the children as they walked from their residences to the bus stop.

The Moorpark School Resource Officer along with Moorpark Detectives learned of these crimes and conducted a two-week investigation on Bautista. At least seven victims of the crime have come forward and identified Bautista as the suspect.

The Moorpark Police Department encourages parents to speak to their children and remind them of the dangers of strangers in their neighborhoods and abroad. Three basics rules to teach children if a stranger approaches:

1) YELL, “GET AWAY!”
2) SAY, “NO!”
3) TELL A SAFE ADULT

Ojai Police Department Reports an Increase in Reported Phone Scams

Ojai Police are warning Ojai Valley residents of an increase in reported phone scams. The suspect(s) have been targeting elderly residents and posing as family members in need of large sums of money or an official calling on the behalf of the family member because they are in jail and need money to bail out. Victims have reported the suspect(s) request the victim(s) to send the money to locations in Vancouver, B.C. Canada, or overseas to countries in the Middle East.

If any area residents receive phone calls of this nature, or any other suspicious nature, they are encouraged to call law enforcement. This type of phone scam is one of many that occur throughout the year and increase during holiday seasons.

Here are some recommendations to protect yourself from telephone scams:

1. Always know whom you are talking to and get information on the business and a call back number.
2. Never provide your confidential information, such as date of birth, social security number, or bank account numbers.
3. Discontinue transactions if someone coaches you on how to send money or respond to questions from money order service employees.
4. Always check with other family members when a suspect calls and poses as a family member requesting money and call the family member the officials are talking about.

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).

Four Tailgate Thefts Reported to Camarillo Police Department Yesterday

Last night (12/6/11), the Camarillo Police Department received calls from 4 victims who reported the tailgates on their trucks had been stolen. One of the trucks was a GMC and the other 3 were Dodges. The thefts occurred in the Mission Oaks area of Camarillo.

 

Stealing a tailgate can be done very quickly, especially if the tailigate is left down. A quick search of the internet can show anyone how to remove a tailgate in less than 15 seconds.

 

Tailgate thefts are a not a new crime, however with internet sites such as Craigslist and ebay, it is easier for thieves to sell the tailgates they steal.

 

If you are a truck owner, there are various companies that sell devices that can assist you in securing your taiigate. It can cost $1000 or more to replace a tailgate so making sure your tailigate is secure should be something for you to consider as a truck owner.

Bicycle Thefts Continue in the Conejo Valley - Anyone Recognize This One?

The Thousand Oaks Police Department has been reporting an increase in bike thefts in the area for a number of months now.  This crime frequently happens when garage doors are left open or bikes are left in patios. Here's a recent example along with detailed information from a Conejo Valley Guide Facebook follower. Should you become aware of the whereabouts of either of these bikes, CONTACT US or call TOPD Dispatch at 805.654.9511.

Stolen from garage in Southshore Hills neighborhood, Westlake Village around 5:30PM on Saturday, Sept 24th, area of Triunfo Canyon Rd, Glastonbury Rd, Hillsbury Rd:

Men’s road bike: 2008 Giant TCR Advanced Team Silver/Black, medium-large frame, with Mavic wheels and Ritchey carbon components and accessories. Valued at $10,000. PICTURED ABOVE

Also stolen was a men’s mountain bike: 2008 Giant Trance 1 Mountain Bike, Silver, medium-large frame, valued at $2500. EXAMPLE BELOW

Bike Thefts on the Increase in Northern Portion of Thousand Oaks

There has been an increase in the thefts of high-end bicycles in the northern portion of Thousand Oaks during the months of July and August of this year. The suspects have entered the victims’ open patios and garages. They have used bolt cutters to remove the cable locks to steal the bicycles. Thefts have occurred during the night hours, late morning and into midday hours.

On 8-15-2011, a witness saw two Hispanic males attempt to steal a bicycle.

Suspect 1 was described as a Hispanic male, 25-30 years old, 5’-10”, 160 lbs, slender build, medium complexion with no facial hair. He was wearing a gray baseball cap.

Suspect 2 was described as a Hispanic male, 25-30 years old, 5’-8”, 180 lbs, medium build, medium complexion, and short dark hair.

Both suspects were wearing royal blue T-shirts with “We Will Floor You” written in white letters on the back of the shirt. There were other words written on the shirt, but the victim could not see what they were.

If you have any information about these crimes, please contact Detective Mike Ferguson of the Thousand Oaks Police Department.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information that 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).

Thousand Oaks Police Department Business Watch Update - May 31, 2011

From the Thousand Oaks Police Department:

Last month a vandalism occurred at the Cheesecake Factory in Thousand Oaks.  A possible known suspect threw a container of oil at the business.  This same type of crime has occurred several times in Oxnard.  If this crime has occurred at your business or if it does, we are asking you report it to the Thousand Oaks Police Department by calling (805) 654-9511.  The more calls we receive the better chance we have in making an arrest. Remember, even a call with the least information may solve several other cases.

Perhaps It's Not a Good Idea to Post Your Whereabouts in Facebook and Twitter

This Ventura County Sheriff's Department news release is a case study in why you don't want to tell people where you're going in Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere on the Web! Though in this case, it was a friend of the victim who made that mistake. But the good news is...the GPS system in the computer's software allowed Sheriffs to recover the computer from the culprit. Nice!

On February 18, 2011, Sheriff’s deputies from the Moorpark Patrol Station responded to a residential burglary call in an unincorporated area outside of Moorpark.  Suspect(s) had entered the residence and had stolen a laptop computer.

Moorpark Station Detectives interviewed the victim and learned that a friend of the victim had innocently posted on FaceBook that the victim and his family were visiting Universal Studios on the day of the burglary.  Detectives also learned that the stolen computer was equipped with a GPS system embedded into the computer’s software.  Through the use of the GPS, Moorpark detectives were able to track the stolen computer to a hotel room in the City of Ventura.

With the assistance of patrol deputies from the Headquarters Station, Moorpark detectives contacted the suspect, Arnold Ikeda, at the hotel room, and arrested him for possessing the stolen computer.  Ikeda was also charged with several drug related offenses, as a subsequent investigation showed that he was also involved in narcotics sales from the hotel room.  During the investigation, a second suspect, Desiree Lovio, arrived at the location and was also arrested on drug related charges.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is reminding everyone who uses social networking websites to do so responsibly.  Be cautious of the information you post on these sites as criminals have the ability to learn of your daily activities and use the information to facilitate their crimes.

Spanish Speaking Community Robbery Scam in Newbury Park on January 25th

From the Thousand Oaks Police Department

Nature of Incident: Robbery scam in Spanish speaking community

Location: 600 Block of Avenida Del Platino, Newbury Park

Date & Time: January 25, 2011 @ 1:25 p.m.

Victim: Female adult / Hispanic Newbury Park 56
Suspect 1 (S-1): Hispanic male Unknown 60-65 years
Suspect 2 (S-2): Hispanic female Unknown 60-65 years

A Newbury Park woman was the victim of a robbery once the suspects talked their way into her home. The female Hispanic victim answered a knock at her front door and was greeted by an older Hispanic couple. The man asked in Spanish if they could have some water, while both suspects acted like they were in need of water. The victim felt sorry for the couple and said in Spanish she would get them some water. The victim left the door open and walked to her kitchen to get some water.

When the victim turned around, both the suspects were already in her home. The victim gave some water to the female suspect as the male suspect walked into the victim’s bedroom. The victim followed after the male suspect and asked what he was doing. The male suspect turned and approached the victim in an intimidating manner. The male suspect got angry and yelled at the victim to “be quiet.”

The victim became very afraid of the suspects and feared for her safety because she was home alone. Both suspects went through the residence looking for items to take. The suspects took items of gold jewelry, a flat screen television, an Apple iPod touch, a black PSP Play Station, victim’s cell phone, U.S. Currency, U.S. Immigration card and Social Security Card.

The suspects loaded the items into an older light gray van (possibly a Chrysler), and locked the victim out of her home before driving away.

(S-1) is described as a Hispanic male in his early to mid sixties, 5’-4” to 5’-7” in height, 155 to 165 pounds, well dressed, and spoke only Spanish in a loud intimidating voice. (S-2) is described as an Hispanic female in her early to mid sixties, 5’-6” to 5’-8” in height, 200 to 230 pounds, long straight black hair worn in a pony tail that reached her lower back, wearing a black sweater over a long black dress with black flat shoes, brown purse, and only spoke Spanish. Neither suspect had any unique traits, scars, marks, or tattoos. Based on the victim only speaking Spanish and living in a predominantly Spanish neighborhood, I believe the suspects will continue to prey upon other Hispanic victims.

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).

Thousand Oaks Police Department Homicide Investigation - Altercation on January 26th

VC Star update 1/28/11 at www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/27/sheriffs-department-investigating-homicides-at/

From the Thousand Oaks Police Department

Two male subjects became involved in a physical altercation near the intersection of Lindero Canyon Road and Bowfield Street. Both subjects were injured as a result of the altercation. One of the subjects succumbed to injuries as result of being stabbed. The identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of next of kin. The other male was transported to a nearby hospital and treated for his injuries.

On January 26, 2011, at about 9:43 p.m., Sheriff’s Communication Center received a 9-1-1 call reporting a physical altercation at the intersection. At about 9:49 p.m., Sheriff’s patrol deputies arrived on scene and discovered two injured males on the sidewalk. Ventura County Fire arrived on scene and pronounced one of the subjects deceased at the scene. The other subject was treated for his injuries.

The investigation is continuing to determine what prompted the altercation and the relationship between the two subjects. The injured subject’s name has not been released due to the ongoing investigation.