What investigators say was a roaming residential burglary crew that hit homes from Thousand Oaks to Santa Clarita has now been taken off the street. Four men, identified as Edisson Boyaca, 27, Owen Rivera-Chacon, 26, Christian Sanchez, 26, and Juan Sebastian Naranjo, 26, were arrested this week on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy and are being held in county jails pending further court proceedings, according to authorities.
How deputies tracked the suspects
Detectives say the break in the case came on May 1, when investigators identified two vehicles tied to recent Thousand Oaks burglaries and tailed them into Los Angeles County. The surveillance led them to a Santa Clarita neighborhood, where deputies say Boyaca, Rivera-Chacon and Sanchez burglarized a home in the 24000 block of Matthew Place, as reported by KCLU.
When deputies moved in, two of the men tried to run. Both were quickly caught, according to investigators, while the third suspect surrendered without incident.
One suspect arrested in Los Angeles
The fourth suspect, Naranjo, was not picked up at the Santa Clarita scene. Detectives later located him on the 1800 block of Third Street in Los Angeles and arrested him in connection with the Thousand Oaks burglaries. He is being held on $500,000 bail, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Where this fits in a larger pattern
Officials have been sounding the alarm for months that organized burglary crews are crisscrossing county lines, targeting quieter suburban neighborhoods for quick hits and high-value hauls. That warning has already led to stepped-up patrols across the region.
Earlier this year, the Ventura County District Attorney described a separate "sophisticated" crew that pleaded guilty in a multimillion dollar Simi Valley jewelry heist, a case prosecutors cited as an example of how carefully planned crews can strike multiple jurisdictions, according to a Ventura County District Attorney release.
Charges and next steps
The four men now face burglary and conspiracy counts, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, and investigators are still working to determine what property may have been taken and from where.
Court dates have not yet been announced. CBS Los Angeles reported that deputies continue to investigate and that Naranjo is being held on $500,000 bail as the case moves forward.
