Ventura County Sheriff – Incident Press Release
Two Thousand Oaks teenagers were arrested after they stole a commercial truck and crashed it in the city of Fillmore.
On 09/18/19, deputies responded to a vehicle theft in the 400 block of Main Street in Fillmore. Deputies learned that two male subjects entered the victim’s truck and sped away. The suspects proceeded to a nearby dirt lot where the victim attempted to confront the thieves. The owner of the truck grabbed onto the vehicle, but the driver accelerated. In doing so, the suspect nearly ran over the victim. The suspects were able to elude the victim and accelerated onto a nearby street where they lost control of the truck and collided with a parked car.
Several witnesses provided information concerning the vehicle theft. In addition, one witness was able to capture the event on a cellphone camera. The witness observed the suspects as they drove throughout the city. During the theft, the suspects lost control of the truck and crashed into a drainage canal near Ventura Street and Los Serenos Drive in Fillmore. Once the vehicle came to rest, the subjects exited and ran away from the scene. Multiple witnesses utilized their cellphone cameras to video various aspects of the crime, but at the time, deputies were unable to locate the suspects.
Investigators were able to identify the suspects by way of the images provided by several witnesses. This led to the identification of 18 year old Thousand Oaks resident Armando Alvarado and a juvenile. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the suspects’ residence. The search warrant uncovered additional evidence linking Alvarado and the juvenile to the crime.
Alvarado was booked at the Pre Trial Detention Facility for the following charges:
VC 10851 (a)- Unlawful taking of a vehicle
VC 20002 (a)- Hit-run driving
PC 245 (a)(1)- Assault with a deadly weapon
The juvenile was booked at the Ventura County Juvenile Hall Facility for the following charges:
VC 10851 (a)- Unlawful taking of a vehicle
VC 20002 (a)- Hit-run driving
In this instance and with several other automobiles stolen in Fillmore this year, keys were left in vehicles, enabling the suspects to steal the vehicles with ease. The Fillmore Police Department would like to remind residents of Fillmore that crimes of opportunity exist because criminals choose targets that offer high reward with little resistance. Residents are reminded that the easiest way to avoid becoming a victim of this crime is to never leave ignition keys in your vehicles.
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