In a sweeping crackdown on retail larceny across Ventura County, the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force has heralded the culmination of an investigation with the arrests of three suspects for multiple thefts from various retail establishments. According to a report by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, the primary suspect, Kevin Ochoa Ordaz, 33, has been implicated in crimes resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in losses at stores including Ulta, LensCrafters, and Target.
On September 10, Ordaz was apprehended by detectives in the parking lot of a Target store in Camarillo. In a separate incident, two additional individuals, Juan Jose Caudillo, 51, from Downey, and Destiny Garcia, 27, from Compton, were taken into custody. Caudillo's arrest was due to three outstanding warrants from Orange County, while Garcia, caught exiting the Target store, was detained for theft and an outstanding burglary warrant from Los Angeles County, as reported by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.
Ordaz now faces felony charges related to organized retail theft and, considering his extensive criminal history dating back to 2008, saw his bail increase to $100,000. However, after pleading not guilty, he was released on his own recognizance ahead of a preliminary examination scheduled for September 25. Caudillo and Garcia, following their arrest, were transferred to Orange County and Los Angeles Sheriffs Department, respectively.
The task force, funded by the California Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program, focuses on stemming a tide of theft amounting to an estimated $10 million yearly loss. "The task force aims to provide a safe environment for everyone while working hand in hand with retailers, law enforcement agencies and the public," the Ventura County Sheriff's Office stated.
