Ventura County Sheriff – Incident Press Release
Two suspects were arrested for committing multiple vehicle burglaries and identity thefts in Thousand Oaks and the Los Angeles County area.
On 3-21-20, two victims parked and locked their vehicles at a trailhead in Thousand Oaks (Lynn Road at Ranch Dos Vientos). After going on a hike, the victims returned to their vehicles and discovered a window had been smashed on each vehicle. Their purses and wallets were stolen which contained credit cards. The stolen credit cards were used fraudulently at different retail locations in Thousand Oaks. The suspects were captured on video surveillance wearing hats and respirator masks (COVID-19) to hide their identities.
During the investigation, Target Asset Protection and Thousand Oaks Patrol identified one of the suspects, (S) Ryan Whitaker, from prior contacts.
On 3-24-20, multiple detectives from East Valley Investigations Bureau and a Moorpark Patrol unit conducted a probation search at Whitaker’s residence in Simi Valley. Stolen property from the victims’ vehicles and items purchased fraudulently with the stolen credit cards were located. Additional stolen property was located at the residence belonging to additional victims of recent vehicle burglaries within the cities of Simi Valley and Agoura Hills (Los Angeles County).
Whitaker was arrested for multiple felonies and booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura.
Through the investigation, the second suspect was identified as (S) Kevin Reese. On 4-2-20, an arrest warrant was issued for Reese regarding the crimes. Reese was arrested later that evening (4-2-20) in Porter Ranch for the arrest warrant. Reese had in his possession stolen property belonging to a vehicle burglary that occurred in Porter Ranch on 4-1-20.
The Simi Valley Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles Police Departments have been contacted in reference to their victims’ stolen property being recovered.
Whitaker is currently out of custody on $65,000.00 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on April 7, 2020. Reese is currently in custody at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility and his bail is set at $200,000.00. Reese is scheduled to appear in court on April 7, 2020.
The Thousand Oaks Police Department would like to remind the community to protect their property and help deputies fight this crime trend by not leaving valuable personal property inside your vehicle, or in plain view. Contact Detective Ryan Shoden, (805) 494-8232, if you have any information regarding these crimes.
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