Full Notification

On February 17, 2023, at 4:26 am, SVPD dispatch received a call of gas theft in progress from the Alliance Gas Station located at Stearns/Cochran St.  The gas station owner arrived to work to find a silver Ford Explorer with an attached tow trailer parked over the underground storage tanks. The owner stated he saw a hose running from the trailer to the underground tanks. Officers arrived and detained Otis Lowe (49 years) and Vanessa Lowe (47 years) of Ventura. Further investigation and interviews revealed that the Lowes took approximately 25-30 gallons of fuel before being interrupted by officers. The trailer had been outfitted with a cut-away floor, internal pump, hoses, and two 55-gallon drums, which appeared to be specifically designed for gas theft. Both subjects were arrested and later booked at Ventura County Main Jail for charges of 182(a) PC - Conspiracy and 484 PC - Theft.