Over the weekend, Ventura County law enforcement officers engaged in a large-scale sting operation dubbed a "blitz operation" by the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force. According to a press release, fifteen individuals were apprehended across various charges, including organized retail theft, possession of stolen property, and drug offenses. An estimated $23,000 worth of stolen goods was recovered in addition to a stolen vehicle and 90 grams of methamphetamine.
The operation, which took place from October 4th to 6th at the Camarillo Premium Outlets, led to two vehicle pursuits with suspects attempting to elude capture. In the first instance, suspects Derrell Jones and Dajuan Butler were involved in a high-speed chase after allegedly committing retail theft at local stores. The pursuit, which saw the suspects' vehicle's tire tear apart, ended when Jones and Butler surrendered to California Highway Patrol officers. Both men were booked with Jones' bail being reduced to $200,000 and Butler's to $40,000.
Another pursuit involved Carolina Valverde, accused of shoplifting from the Nike store at the Outlets before leading officers on a chase that ended at a California Highway Patrol weigh station. Valverde, whose bail was reduced to $100,000, is charged with several counts including misdemeanor shoplifting and felony evasion. She remains in custody ahead of an early disposition conference set for October 17th.
Additional arrests from the sting include Scott Lyn, Keisa Rene Smallwood, and others on various charges related to organized retail theft and drug offenses. Smallwood, for example, faces four felony counts of organized retail theft along with grand theft and resisting arrest charges from San Bernardino County. His bail was set at $80,000 and reduced to $20,000 following a court appearance. The task force emphasizes collaboration with local retailers to combat estimated annual losses of $10 million from retail theft in Ventura County.
Demonstrating the extensive coordinated effort in Ventura County to combat theft, the task force operated with detectives from multiple agencies. The press release underlines that those with information related to retail theft are encouraged to reach out to law enforcement. The Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force can be contacted at their main line, (805) 383-8703 or through the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) for anonymous tips.