A 36-year-old Oxnard man is facing multiple felony charges in connection with a string of vehicle thefts and identity thefts in Thousand Oaks, following a months-long investigation by Ventura County authorities.
According to a news release from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, detectives with the East County Investigations Bureau’s Property Crimes Unit began investigating in July after a series of thefts from unlocked vehicles were reported in Thousand Oaks.
The suspects allegedly stole cash, credit cards, personal information, and other property, later using the stolen credit cards at businesses in Ventura County.
Investigators identified a vehicle believed to be involved and eventually linked Fernando Salinas of Oxnard to the crimes. Salinas was arrested on Sept. 18 by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on unrelated residential burglary charges.
The following day, Ventura County detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Salinas related to the Thousand Oaks thefts. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office has since filed charges of identity theft, grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, and petty theft with prior convictions, according to the sheriff’s office.
Salinas remains in custody in Los Angeles County and will be extradited to Ventura County once he is released, officials said. Detectives are continuing to investigate and are working to identify additional suspects in the case.
The sheriff’s office urged residents to remain vigilant by locking their vehicles and removing valuables, noting that while Thousand Oaks is considered a safe community, criminals can take advantage of a false sense of security.
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