Community
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).
Media Release: Organized Crime Group Arrested
| Nature of Incident: | Organized Crime Group Arrested | ||||
| Report Number: | 25-140258 | ||||
| Location: | 700 Block on North Moorpark Road, City of Thousand Oaks | ||||
| Date & Time: | 10/31/2025 @ 11:00 AM | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | East County Investigations Bureau – Property Crimes Unit and Special Enforcement Unit |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (S) Luis Alberto Melo Correa (S) Ramona Del Rosario Silva Gacitua (S) Maria Del Milagro Hernandez Puig |
Los Angeles, Ca Los Angeles, Ca Los Angeles, Ca |
60 47 66 |
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| Narrative: | |||||
| On 10/31/2025, Thousand Oaks Patrol Deputies responded to a call for service at a local grocery store located in 700 block of North Moorpark Road in the City of Thousand Oaks, in reference to a theft of a wallet. Deputies on scene determined that an unknown suspect distracted the victim while a second suspect stole the victim’s wallet from her purse that was sitting in a shopping cart the victim was using. After the suspects stole the wallet, they immediately went to a nearby shopping mall and used the victim’s credit cards to make purchases at two different retail locations. After receiving the case, detectives with the East County Investigations Bureau began investigating the theft and subsequent use of the credit cards. Through various investigative techniques, and collaboration with loss prevention employees from the involved retail businesses, investigators were able to identify three subjects associated with the crime. On 12/10/2025, detectives from the East County Investigations Bureau – Property Crimes Unit and Special Enforcement Unit, responded to the City of Los Angeles and located Luis Melo Carrea, Ramona Silva Gacitua, and Maria Hernandez Puig. All three suspects were taken into custody and booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for Penal Code Section 459(a) – Burglary, 530.5 PC Identity Theft, and 182(a)(1) PC - Conspiracy. Their bail was set at $150,000 and they are scheduled to appear at the Ventura County Superior Court on 12/12/2025 at 1:30 PM. Additionally, Silva Gacitua had three outstanding warrants for similar crimes committed in two other California jurisdictions. All three suspects are believed to be part of a Transnational Organized Crime Group. The Thousand Oaks Police Department encourages residents to be vigilant when shopping. When using a purse, keep the purse on you and secured. Do not leave valuables in a shopping cart where your attention is not focused elsewhere. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @ThousandOaksPD, Facebook @Thousand Oaks Police Department, Instagram @ThousandOaksPD, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories. |
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| Prepared by: | Sergeant Richard LaSecla | ||||
| News Release Date: | 12/11/2025 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Ethan Battle 805-494-8225 [email protected] |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Albert Ramirez YES NO X |
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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