Two Los Angeles men were arrested on April 29 for their alleged involvement in a string of thefts of critical truck electronic control components throughout Ventura County.
Investigators with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation in April after it was believed multiple people were targeting Freightliner trucks in the unincorporated area of El Rio, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
The sheriff’s office is contracted to provide police services for unincorporated areas of the county, such as El Rio.
Sheriff’s detectives found that the assailants would approach vehicles during the night, break a window to get inside and then steal the electronic control computers of the vehicle, sheriff’s officials said.
The alleged thieves would flee with the computers, estimated to cost $3,300 each, and render the trucks unusable until parts are replaced and programmed.
Detectives found that similar crimes had happened in the neighboring jurisdictions of the Oxnard and Simi Valley police departments, sheriff’s officials said. Two Los Angeles men, ages 46 and 39, were identified as suspects.
On April 29, sheriff’s deputies found the 46-year-old man’s 2019 Jaguar in Santa Paula and conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle, officials said.
Investigators searched the vehicle and found stolen computers inside and seized the Jaguar as evidence.
The two men were booked into Ventura County jail on suspicion of several felonies, including burglary and grand theft.
The 46-year-old’s bail is set at $70,000 while the 39-year-old’s is $65,000, jail records show. They are both scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on May 1.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: 2 men arrested in alleged theft of key truck parts in Ventura County
Reporting by Ernesto Centeno Araujo, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
