Thousand Oaks City Watch Update and Request for Information - December 29, 2010

Here is the latest "City Watch" alert from Deputy Jim DeSoto of the Thousand Oaks Police Department. If you would like these updates directly from him via email, click here for more information.

Crime Fighters,

I hope everyone is a having a wonderful holiday season and is enjoying our change in weather in our mostly unchanging southern California climate. While many of you were enjoying time with family and friends, the Grinch, unfortunately, was active in Newbury Park. The Grinch tried to destroy the festive time of many families by assaulting different neighborhoods with his penchant for pilfering.

This past weekend the areas west and north of Newbury Park High School were victimized by a spate of vehicle burglaries. Undoubtedly, the same person(s) were responsible for trying to dampen the spirits of others by stealing property left in the vehicles. The rain did not deter the villains as the suspects(s) smashed out windows, reached inside the vehicles and took the goods in each of the burglaries. Please do not keep any valuables inside your vehicles and remember that your car alarm will not activate on a window smash. The thieves know this they will not touch any door handles but simply reach inside your vehicles and take whatever they can grab. Even the window break, especially a window with tinted windows, will make very little noise.

A few days earlier, the neighborhood east of Wendy Drive and south of the 101 Freeway was struck by midnight hour opportunist(s). Multiple vehicles were broken into by smashing a window and then the heathens helped themselves to someone else’s property. There have been too many vehicle break-ins in the Newbury Park area and someone knows whom is/are responsible for these crimes. Most likely these criminals are teenagers and/or young adults who most likely live in the Newbury Park area. If you know who might be responsible for these thefts, please contact detectives (805.494.8201), dispatch (805.64.9511) or Crime Stoppers (800.222.TIPS).

Prescription drug abuse permeates our society at every socioeconomic level and the abuse sometimes leads to crime. Two pharmacies in Thousand Oaks were burglarized over the weekend. The crooks shattered a window, entered the store and took as many prescription bottles as they could carry in both incidents. Earlier in the year, a couple of other pharmacies were broken into and prescription medication was also taken. Sadly, there is a market for the abuse and exploitation of prescription drugs and their users. Don’t forget, if you have any unwanted, unneeded prescription drugs, the Thousand Oaks Police Department has a disposal receptacle in its lobby. We will destroy the prescription medication for you and the sooner we rid our environs of these potentially addicting drugs, the better off we will all be.

A Pomeranian put the pause on a would-be thief. The victim and her friend were sitting on a bench at a strip mall when the crook decided to grab the victim’s purse that was lying on the bench next to the victim. Our fleet-of-foot- felon fled with the female’s handbag and the victim gave chase, not because she wanted her purse back, but because Fido was affixed to the purse via a leash. The potential dog-napper dropped the purse along with the carted canine and he kept running. Expect this troublemaker to be arrested soon.

A not-so-smart marijuana dealer ultimately enjoyed Christmas day in the county jail. Not wanting to keep a promise to one of his buyers, this dealer texted and told his faithful customer that he (the dealer) was being kidnapped and taken to Los Angeles. The dealer continued with this false emergency until his concerned friend notified the police department. With such a serious event, we deployed many of our resources until we found the wholesaling hash hoaxer. He admitted to causing a fictitious emergency to be reported and he had some marijuana for sale in his possession. Thankfully, he was unable to give any more of his green, grassy goods as gifts.

Finally, there are many fraudulent activities made through stolen credit card numbers, stolen access cards, and stolen identities. These transactions cost us all millions of dollars each year and locally we are just as inundated with these crimes as anywhere else. Let’s place some of these crooks where they belong. Please take a look at the flyer below, disseminate the flyer to your family and friends, and let’s identify the suspects.

Please have an enjoyable, fun and safe New Year.

See you next year,

Jim (DeSoto)