Community
Organized Retail Theft Crew Arrested with an Infant After Crime Spree
| Nature of Incident: | Organized Retail Theft Crew Arrested with an Infant After Crime Spree | |||||||
| Report Number: | 25-92749 | |||||||
| Location: | Various retail establishments within the city of Thousand Oaks and the San Fernando Valley | |||||||
| Date & Time: | 7/23/25 @ 7:00 p.m. | |||||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office – Bureau of Investigation, Thousand Oaks Patrol | |||||||
| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
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| (S) Bolden, Janaih Unique (S) Peterson, Xzayvia Somoan (S) Bell-Sanders, Joshlyn Lavette |
Bakersfield Bakersfield Bakersfield |
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| Narrative: | ||||||||
| Three Bakersfield residents were arrested this past Wednesday after they went on a theft spree in the city of Thousand Oaks and the San Fernando Valley targeting multiple retail stores. One month ago, Loss Prevention/Asset Protection investigators with Bath & Body Works and Old Navy reached out to the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force regarding an organized crew that was targeting multiple stores in Ventura County. Detectives from the Task Force immediately began investigating the case and with the help of retail investigators, identified (S) Janaih Bolden, Xzayvia Peterson and Joshlyn Bell-Sanders as suspects. Loss Prevention Investigators continued to monitor the three as they committed thefts not only in Ventura County but Los Angeles, Kern and Orange Counties as well. On 7/23/25, Detectives were made aware the suspects were in the city of Thousand Oaks committing thefts at various retail establishments. Detectives located the suspects and saw they had a small infant with them. The suspects used the 3-month-old infant’s baby stroller, with the infant inside, as a means to conceal the merchandise they stole. Detectives arrested all three suspects just after they left the Old Navy store located at the Janss Marketplace. Merchandise valued at over $5,000 from four different retailers such as Old Navy, Ross, Gap and Dick’s Sporting Goods was recovered from inside their vehicle. Bolden was found to have a large magnet in her possession. Magnets are often used by thieves to defeat security devices. A Social Worker from the Ventura County Child Protective Services responded and took custody of the infant which was Bolden’s daughter. All three suspects were arrested on numerous felony charges including Organized Retail Theft, Conspiracy, Grand Theft, Receiving Stolen Property and Child Endangerment. They were booked at the Main Jail in Ventura. Detectives completed the paperwork to increase the bail amount and to challenge the source of bail for all three suspects. All three suspects were also booked on previous cases from March 2025 where they committed thefts from CVS and Bath & Body Works both located in the city of Camarillo. Bolden’s and Peterson’s bail was set at $170,000 while Bell-Sanders’ bail was set at $320,000. On 7/25/25, all three suspects were arraigned in court. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed three felony charges of Organized Retail Theft, two felony charges of Commercial Burglary, two felony charges of Grand Theft, one misdemeanor count of Possession of Burglary Tools and one misdemeanor count of Child Endangerment against each suspect. Special allegations were also filed against the suspects due to the sophistication of their crimes. During arraignment, the judge reduced bail on all three suspects with Bell-Sanders’ and Bolden’s bail being set at $10,000 while Peterson’s bail was set at $20,000. All three suspects were remanded to the custody of the Sheriff. All three suspects are due back in court on 8/25/25. The Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force was formed after the Sheriff’s Office was awarded grant funding under the California Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program. This program formalizes a coordinated effort, overseen by the Sheriff’s Office, involving all law enforcement agencies in Ventura County to prevent and combat the estimated $10 million yearly loss from organized retail theft, vehicle/vehicle parts theft and cargo theft. The task force is comprised of detectives from various agencies within Ventura County with the primary mission of combatting organized retail theft, vehicle/vehicle parts theft and cargo theft which impact our businesses, citizens, and communities here in Ventura County. The task force aims to provide a safe environment for everyone while working hand in hand with retailers, law enforcement agencies and the public to identify, locate and arrest the criminals involved in these types of crimes. Anyone with information regarding organized retail theft, vehicle/vehicle parts theft or cargo theft are encouraged to call the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force’s recorded line at (805) 383-8703 or by calling the Crime Stoppers Tip Line (800) 222-TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous when calling either number. |
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| Prepared by: | Sergeant Todd Welty | |||||||
| News Release Date: | 7/25/25 | |||||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Sergeant Todd Welty (805) 947-8104 [email protected] |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Matt Young YES NO X |
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Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511