In a crackdown on organized crime, three Los Angeles residents were arrested by the Thousand Oaks Police Department, linked to a transnational crime group reputed for theft and identity theft. Suspects Luis Alberto Melo Correa, Ramona Del Rosario Silva Gacitua, and Maria Del Milagro Hernandez Puig, aged 60, 47, and 66, respectively, were apprehended following a meticulous investigation by the East County Investigations Bureau.
The incident, which occurred on October 31 in a grocery store on the 700 Block of North Moorpark Road, involved the suspects distracting a victim before stealing a wallet and subsequently making unauthorized purchases with stolen credit cards. According to a media release from the Thousand Oaks Police, the detectives utilized various techniques and collaborated with the retail businesses' loss prevention staff to identify the culprits.
Confirmed in a statement made by Sergeant Richard LaSecla, the arrests took place on December 10 in Los Angeles, where the suspects were taken into custody and booked for burglary, identity theft, and conspiracy, with bail set at $150,000 each. They are scheduled for a court appearance on December 12 at the Ventura County Superior Court. Silva Gacitua, notably, was also wanted for similar offenses in other California jurisdictions.
The police remind residents to maintain vigilance while shopping, suggesting keeping purses secured and close by to prevent opportunistic crimes. Following the revelations, the department encourages the public to stay informed on safety tips and advisories by subscribing to local alerts through their various social media platforms. Detailed by Detective Ethan Battle, those with information on similar incidents are urged to come forward, with Ventura County Crime Stoppers offering up to a $1,000 reward for tips that lead to arrests.
