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

Full Notification

Ventura County Sheriff's Office
Wednesday October 19th, 2022 :: 03:14 p.m. PDT

Community

Community Alert

Nature of Incident: Community Alert
Report Number:  
Location: Ventura County
Date & Time: 2022
Unit(s) Responsible: Thousand Oaks Investigations Bureau
Narrative:
 
In its ongoing commitment to safeguarding our local communities, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to advise our community members of an expected increase in residential burglaries occurring in the evenings.  Since 2018, Sheriff’s investigators have identified a seasonal pattern of increased residential burglaries beginning in October of each year and ending in March of each year.  This increase in residential burglaries is directly related to an influx of transnational criminals commonly referred to by law enforcement as South American Theft Group members.  Investigators have determined these transnational criminals tend to target unoccupied residences that back to open spaces such as hiking trails and golf courses.  Investigators have noted most of these crimes tend to occur between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
 
The Sheriff’s Office offers the following suggestions to deter these transnational criminals from targeting our communities:
  • Leave indoor lights and/or televisions on during the evening hours to give the appearance the house is occupied.
  • Close and lock all windows and doors when leaving the house.
  • Activate alarm systems when leaving the house.
  • Alarm systems should consist of door sensors, window sensors and glass break sensors for all windows and doors on the first and second stories of the house.
  • Safes have been specifically targeted during these burglaries.  Consider storing valuables in safe deposit boxes or other secure locations. 
  • Report any suspicious vehicles or individuals immediately by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (805) 654-9511.  Pay particular attention to vehicles that drive slowly up and down residential streets, vehicles parked on a street with the engine on and headlights off, and vehicles parked adjacent to hiking trails or golf course access points during hours that are not consistent with hiking or golfing.
 
 
Prepared by: Sergeant Greg Gibson  
News Release Date: October 14, 2022  
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Greg Gibson
(805) 947-8097 / [email protected]
 		  
Approved by:
 
 
Booking Photo Release: 		Captain Dean Cook
 
 YES     NO  		  
       
 
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