In a breakthrough that has blindsided a quiet community, detectives in Thousand Oaks cracked a cold case wide open thanks to DNA evidence linking a man to a residential burglary from nearly a year ago. Luis Alonso Parada, 46, is behind bars after being pegged as the burglar who left residents of Charterwood Court locking their doors with trepidation.

Originally hitting a dead end last July, Ventura County sleuths applied fresh eyes and advanced forensic science to the case. According to a media release posted on Nixle, detectives from the East County Investigations Career Criminal Unit reignited the investigation that led to Parada's arrest. The suspect was already cooling his heels in Todd Road Jail for a separate "hot prowl" incident from February 29, 2024, when the new evidence surfaced.

The trail went hot after Parada was nabbed for the February 2024 burglary, raising suspicions due to the cases' close proximity. Advances in DNA profiling turned the tide, matching samples from both crime scenes to Parada. "Thousand Oaks Detectives utilized DNA Evidence to reopen a cold case burglary investigation that ultimately led to the identification and arrest of the suspect," officials stated, signaling a victory for the perseverance of local law enforcement.

As a result of the diligent detective work, Parada will face one count of PC 459 – Residential Burglary. Ventura County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and criminal complaint against those responsible for the crimes, while the infamous suspect awaits his March 29th arraignment. Detective K. Walters has been identified as the preparer of the release and the point of contact for any follow-up inquiries.

Residents are hopeful that the arrest will bring a renewed sense of security to their streets, as Ventura County authorities continue to encourage the public to step forward with any information that can assist in their ongoing efforts to deter and solve similar crimes.