Community
Operation “Return to Sender” - Organized Retail Theft Task Force arrests Los Angeles County Residents after UPS Cargo Theft Spree
| Nature of Incident: | Operation “Return to Sender” - Organized Retail Theft Task Force arrests Los Angeles County Residents after UPS Cargo Theft Spree | |||||
| Report Number: | 25-004333, 25-0046894, 25-0103396 | |||||
| Location: | County of Ventura | |||||
| Date & Time: | 11-14-25 / 0700 | |||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force; Thousand Oaks SEU and DEU; Simi Valley Police; Ventura County District Attorney Investigators Office |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | ||||
| Gutierrez-Ferrufino, Herson Danilo Ortiz, Chris Justin Delgado-Mera, Alejandro Andres Vera-Diaz, Leivin Giovanny Lopez, Ever Lisandro |
Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles |
36 24 37 39 38 |
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| Narrative: |
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During the months ranging from April through October 2025 multiple Ventura County cities experienced UPS Cargo thefts from the UPS delivery vehicles. During the investigation by the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force Detectives, VCORTTF identified the suspects in the crimes as Los Angeles residents. The total estimated loss to UPS was estimated at $70,000.00 dollars. On November 14th, 2025, VCORTTF investigators with the assistance of the Simi Valley Police Department, District Attorney Investigators Office, Thousand Oaks Police Special Enforcement Unit and Directed Enforcement Units, VCORTTF executed warrants at 3 locations in Los Angeles and arrested 3 suspects. Through additional surveillance, 2 other suspects were identified and arrested, bringing the total to 5. Gutierrez-Ferrufino, Ortiz, Delgado-Mera, Vera Diaz and Lopez were charged by the District Attorney’s Office with felony counts of 487(a)PC – Grand Theft, 182(a)(1) – Conspiracy to commit a crime and 466 PC – Possession of Burglary Tools. Gutierrez-Ferrufino, Ortiz, Delgado-Mera, Vera Diaz and Lopez are currently in custody in the Ventura County Jail on unrelated charges. Additional suspects are outstanding, and their arrests are anticipated. 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. People 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). Callers can remain anonymous. Additional information can be found on the Task Force’s website at www.theftcrackdownvc.org. Tips can also be sent to the website as well. |
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| Prepared by: | Sergeant Baltazar Tapia | |||||
| News Release Date: | 12/8/25 | |||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Sergeant Baltazar Tapia baltazar.tapia@ventura.org |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Matt Young NO |
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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