Moorpark Police Seeking Help Re: Indecent Exposure Case

From the City of Moorpark City Watch Crime Alert System:

Nature of Incident: Camarillo man arrested after committing an indecent exposure

Location: Tierra Rejada Road at Peach Hill Road, Moorpark

Date & Time/ RB#: Aug. 25, 2009 @ 6:20 a.m. / 09-20732

Unit Responsible: Moorpark P.D. Investigations

Suspect: Alberto Vaca, Age 19, Camarillo

Narrative: On the morning of 08-25-09, at about 6:20 a.m., a city of Moorpark resident (woman) reported that a green Ford Mustang was slowly following her while she was out jogging on Tierra Rejada Road. The woman confronted the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle about his intentions. The woman described the driver as a Hispanic male. When the woman confronted the driver, the suspect remained in the vehicle and exposed himself to the woman. A passerby in another vehicle rendered aid to the woman jogger. The driver of the older model green Ford Mustang drove away from the scene.

Moorpark patrol deputies spoke with the victim and a witness who rendered assistance to the victim. These persons described the vehicle as a forest green, late 1990’s Ford Mustang two-door vehicle, with possible collision damage on the passenger side of the vehicle. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, about late 20’s in age, dark skin, and slender to medium build.

On the morning of 08-26-09, a 19-year-old Camarillo resident was arrested after being identified as the man responsible for exposing himself to the woman in the city of Moorpark. Subsequent investigation revealed Alberto Vaca, frequently drove his green 1997 Ford Mustang around Tierra Rejada Road just east of the high school and just west of Spring Road this past month looking for women jogging or walking. This occurred between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. When he found a target, he would pull up alongside the woman and expose himself. Vaca targeted at least three different women. The first incident occurred in Moorpark within the past month.

Investigators are interested in speaking with anyone who has been the victim of this type of crime with the above-described vehicle while on Tierra Rejada Road or its vicinity recently. Anyone with information about Vaca’s activities is asked to contact Detective Ilano at (805) 532-2714.

Thousand Oaks Police Department Bicycle Safety Enforcement Announcement

What is a “sharrow”? (From City of Thousand Oaks Website)
A sharrow is a road lane marking that shows a stencil of a bicycle with two chevron markings above it. The purpose of a sharrow is to remind residents to share the road when driving or riding in Thousand Oaks. It's designed for use in areas too narrow for a separate bike lane. Sharrows are about 3 feet wide and 10 feet long. The California Department of Transportation officially adopted the design in 2005. Thousand Oaks will begin stenciling sharrows in September 2008.

Sharrows have several applications in improving safety for cyclists and motorists:

• Sharrows tend to keep bicyclists from riding too close to parked vehicles,
  which puts them at risk for unexpected opening car doors.
• With sharrows on the road, motorists tend to give more space to bicyclists
  that they pass.
• Sharrows help reduce wrong-way riding by bicyclists.
• They help decrease aggressive bicycle-car interactions.
• They can help reduce the level of pedestrian-to-bicycle conflicts on sidewalks.

2008 City of Camarillo Crime Statistics

The Ventura County Sheriff's Department has published 2008 crime reports for areas in its jurisdiction at www.vcsd.org/crime_stats/index.html and the City of Camarillo statistics are shown below (Thousand Oaks statistics here). The overall reported crime rate dropped by 3% in 2008. Violent crime in Camarillo was down a notable 18% in 2008, while residential burglaries grew by 38% (117 reported crimes). Overall, nice job, Camarillo!

There were 17.2 reported crimes per 1000 residents in Camarillo, or 1 crime for every 58 residents (comparable statistic in Thousand Oaks is 1 out of 66 residents). Los Angeles County crime rates are roughly double these rates.  Stay vigilant!

2008 City of Thousand Oaks Crime Statistics

The Ventura County Sheriff's Department has published crime reports for areas in its jurisdiction for 2008 at www.vcsd.org/crime_stats/index.html.  The good news is that overall crime is down by 8% (9% when population growth is factored in)!  Violent crimes were basically flat year over year.  Burglaries are down by over 27% overall in 2008!  The only negative news to report is that there was a 21% increase in the number of arsons in 2008, representing an increase from 14 reported arsons in 2007 to 17 arsons in 2008.  Thanks to the Sheriff's Department and all of you for keeping crime rates in our area low!