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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).
Media Release: License Plate Reader Assists Deputies Locate & Arrest Theft Suspect
| Nature of Incident: | License Plate Reader Assists Deputies Locate & Arrest Theft Suspect |
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| Report Number: | 26-115097 26-115310 |
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| Location: | 209 W. Ventura Blvd, Camarillo | ||||
| Date & Time: | 09/02/2026 – 1940 Hours | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Camarillo Patrol Services Sheriff’s Advanced Real-Time Information Center (ARTIC) Target Loss Prevention |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (S) Abelardo Tapia |
Oxnard, CA |
23 | |||
| Narrative: | |||||
| On September 2, 2026, Camarillo Patrol deputies utilized a Sheriff’s Office Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system to locate, identify, and arrest a serial theft suspect in Camarillo. Deputies worked with Target Loss Prevention to determine the suspect was responsible for committing multiple thefts at various Target stores in Ventura County over the last few months. On September 2, 2026, at approximately 1200 hours, Camarillo Patrol responded to the Target located at 209 W. Ventura Boulevard in Camarillo for a theft report. Target Loss Prevention staff informed a Sheriff’s Office deputy that a male suspect committed a theft of LEGO toy merchandise the previous day. The suspect committed the theft by fraudulently placing a low value “cat food” merchandise price tag on a higher priced LEGO item, then used a self-checkout to make the fraudulent purchase. Loss Prevention advised the same suspect had committed similar “price swapping” thefts at other Targets in Ventura County to fraudulently obtain LEGO merchandise over the last few months, resulting in over $1100 value loss. In some cases, the suspect also simply concealed items and left the store without making any payment. Sheriff’s Deputies, with the assistance of Target Loss Prevention and the Sheriff’s Office Advanced Real-Time Information Center (ARTIC), identified the suspect’s vehicle. On September 2, 2026, at approximately 1900 hours, a pro-active Camarillo Patrol deputy received an ALPR alert that the suspect vehicle returned to the Camarillo Target shopping center area. The deputy quickly located the suspect vehicle in the Target parking lot. Patrol deputies contacted Target Loss Prevention, who confirmed the suspect was in the store. Loss Prevention advised the suspect was actively “price swapping” tags on merchandise and concealing other items inside of a purse that he obtained in the store. The suspect then used a self-checkout line to fraudulently purchase items, again by using a low value “cat food” merchandise tag. The information was relayed to Camarillo Patrol deputies, who contacted (S) Abelardo Tapia in the parking lot and he was positively identified as the suspect in the above-mentioned Target thefts. Deputies determined Tapia had stolen pregnancy prevention pills and other personal care products during this theft. Deputies searched Tapia’s vehicle and located LEGO’s, which had been stolen during one of the recent Targets thefts. The recovered merchandise was returned to Target Loss Prevention. Deputies also learned Tapia had an outstanding, local, arrest warrant for traffic violations. Tapia was arrested and booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for multiple violations of 459.5 PC- Shoplifting and a misdemeanor traffic warrant. His bail was set at $10,300. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter@VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @ VCSHERIFF, 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 Beau Rodriguez | ||||
| News Release Date: | 09/08/2026 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Jordan Rojales 805-947-8326 Detective Jeffrey Collins 805-947-8252 |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Jason Hendren 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