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).
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Dismantles Vehicle Theft Crew Operating Across County Lines
| Nature of Incident: | Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Dismantles Vehicle Theft Crew Operating Across County Lines |
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| Report Number: | 26-15466 | ||||
| Location: | 800 Block Linden Court, Thousand Oaks 900 Block Camino La Maida, Thousand Oaks |
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| Date & Time: | May 5, 2026, 1:20 PM | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | East County Special Enforcement Unit East County Investigations Bureau Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (S) Juan Arellano (S) Ricky Chavez |
Compton Compton |
46 40 |
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| Narrative: | |||||
| Detectives with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office East County Special Enforcement Unit have arrested two suspects tied to a coordinated vehicle theft operation targeting pickup trucks in the city of Thousand Oaks. This investigation began after two separate thefts of Chevrolet Silverado trucks occurred in February 2026. Both vehicles were forcibly taken during overnight hours, later recovered with extensive damage, including tampered ignitions and partially removed catalytic converters—clear indicators of an organized theft pattern. Through an extensive investigation, detectives identified Juan Arellano and Ricky Chavez as the primary suspects responsible for the crimes. On April 9, 2026, detectives served a search warrant at a suspected “Chop-Shop” in the 5400 block of Gage Ave in the City of Bell, where Arellano was taken into custody without incident. During the search, investigators recovered stolen property, including a separate stolen vehicle and a catalytic converter believed to be linked to ongoing theft activity. Arellano was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail on multiple felony charges, including grand theft, possession of stolen property, and unlawful taking of a vehicle. Arellano has since been released with court released supervision. Further investigation identified Chavez as a co-conspirator. Chavez, who is currently on CDC state parole for felony assault with a deadly weapon, was located on May 5, 2026, in the City of Compton. Detectives took Chavez into custody following a coordinated enforcement operation. Chavez was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail on multiple felony charges, including grand theft, possession of stolen property, and unlawful taking of a vehicle. A parole hold was also placed on Chavez, and he was found to have an outstanding felony warrant from San Diego County for felony burglary. This case highlights the deliberate and organized nature of vehicle theft crews operating in our county. These were not crimes of opportunity—these suspects were targeting specific vehicles and working together to profit from stolen property. We will continue to aggressively pursue and arrest those responsible. Join us to stay alerted 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: | Detective Kenneth Ledesma | ||||
| News Release Date: | May 6, 2026 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Kenneth Ledesma (805) 826-5384 [email protected] |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Albert Ramirez YES NO |
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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