OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Thirteen people arrested during vehicle theft investigations over a four day period.
DATE/TIME:	02/22/19 – 02/25/19
LOCATION/ SUSPECT:	·     Ricardo Navarro (26 years old), 1000 block of Fir Avenue ·     Alberto Herrera (28 years old), Bard Avenue at Rose Avenue ·     Jessica Castro (28 years old), 300 block North “F” Street ·     Cristobal Gonzalez (19 years old), Concord Drive at Channel Islands Boulevard ·     Juan Contreras (28 years old), 2000 block of South “F” Street ·     Raymond Pulido (25 years old), Patterson Road at Hemlock Street ·     Seven (7) juveniles, names withheld
PREPARED BY:	Luis Mancha, Sergeant
CONTACT PERSON AND  CONTACT INFO:	Charles Buttell, Detective [email protected] or (805) 385-7755

DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department has an ongoing commitment to curb auto theft and arrest those responsible for it.  During four days earlier this week, officers arrested 13 people for auto theft-related charges.  Below is a summary of those arrests:

February 22, 2019

• 8:30 p.m. – patrol officers observed a stolen vehicle in the 1000 block of Fir Avenue.  Officers attempted to stop the vehicle and the driver fled on foot.  Officers apprehended the suspect who was later identified as Ricardo Navarro.  Navarro was arrested for auto theft and narcotics-related charges.
• 9:40 p.m. – patrol officers located a stolen vehicle in the area of Bard Avenue and Rose Avenue.  An officer recognized the driver as being Alberto Herrera.  Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but the vehicle fled.  A vehicle pursuit ensued but was canceled due to safety reasons.  Officers located the vehicle in the area of Iris Street and Gisler Avenue approximately 10 minutes later.  On February 26, 2019, at approximately 3:30 P.M., officers from the Oxnard Police Department Special Enforcement Unit observed Herrera in the area of Redwood and “J” Street.  Herrera was contacted and arrested for auto theft and felony evading related charges.

• 11:27 p.m. – patrol officers located another stolen vehicle at Mariposa Street and Bluebell Street.  The occupants of the vehicle were contacted and all were determined to be juveniles.  One of the juveniles was arrested for auto theft-related charges and the others were released to their parents.

February 23, 2019

• 6:14 p.m. – officers from the Oxnard Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle at Rose Avenue and Pleasant Valley Road.  A vehicle pursuit was initiated but was canceled for safety reasons.  The vehicle was located a short time later in the 300 block of North “F” Street and the two occupants were contacted inside the vehicle.  Jessica Castro was identified as the driver in the pursuit.  Castro was arrested for auto theft and felony evading related charges.  The passenger, Albert Waldron, was arrested for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.

February 24, 2019

• 2:57 p.m. – a patrol officer located a stolen vehicle in the area of Concord Drive and Channel Islands Boulevard.  Seven people were contacted and arrested; six of them being juveniles.  Cristobal Gonzalez attempted to flee but was apprehended and arrested for resisting or delaying a peace officer.  The juveniles were charged with auto theft-related charges.
• 5:40 p.m. – officers from the Oxnard Police Department Special Enforcement Unit attempted to contact a subject in a vehicle in the 2000 block of South “F” Street.  The driver, Juan Contreras, fled into a nearby residence but was apprehended.  The vehicle Contreras was in was a reported stolen vehicle from the City of Camarillo.  Contreras was arrested for auto theft-related charges and for an outstanding felony warrant.

February 25, 2019

• 12:02 p.m. – a patrol officer located a stolen vehicle in the area of Patterson Road and Hemlock Street.  The vehicle fled and a vehicle pursuit ensued.  During the pursuit, the vehicle collided with a parked vehicle and the occupants fled.  The passenger was identified as Raymond Pulido.  Pulido was contacted and arrested for auto theft and narcotics-related charges.  The driver was not located.

Help protect yourself and your vehicle from thieves by remembering to:

• Lock your vehicle and take out your valuables when leaving it.  An unlocked car is an invitation to a thief. 
• Close all windows – thieves can open vehicles through the smallest of openings.
• Take your car keys with you. Do not leave them in your car, or leave your car running.

 

Please be advised that a large portion of auto theft is attributed to vehicles left running and unattended in front of the owner’s own home.

Detectives from the Auto Theft Task Force, as part of an ongoing campaign to curb auto theft, are offering steering wheel locks to Oxnard residents.  Owners of 1990-2000, Honda passenger vehicles are being asked to be extra vigilant due to the high number of thefts involving these specific vehicles.  The Auto Theft Task Force has a limited amount of steering wheel locks available, for details on obtaining a free steering wheel lock, contact Detective Enrique Alvarez at (805) 385-7664.

The Oxnard Police Department cannot effectively stop auto theft without the assistance of concerned, responsible residents.  We are depending on YOU to call and tell us whenever you see suspicious persons or activity.  Contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7740 or the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 and www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to report suspicious or criminal activity.  Translators are available 24/7.