Four arrested in suspected diesel fuel thefts involving commercial trucks in Ventura County – NBC Los Angeles

Four arrested in suspected diesel fuel thefts involving commercial trucks in Ventura County  NBC Los Angeles

The arrests followed a weeks-long investigation into thefts in Oxnard, Camarillo and Thousand Oaks Four men from the Los Angeles area were arrested in connection with a series of diesel fuel thefts targeting commercial trucks across Ventura County, authorities said. The arrests followed a weeks-long investigation into thefts in Oxnard, Camarillo and Thousand Oaks that resulted in an estimated $3,330 in losses, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. The suspects were identified as Los Angeles County residents, Alfonso Vargas, 52; Alfonso Vargas Jr., 33; Gilbert Flores, 37; and Miguel Cruz, 38. All four are have extensive criminal histories, according to sheriff's officials. The investigation began Sept. 18, when deputies responded to a reported fuel theft at Tri County Transportation, a commercial truck and semi-trailer storage yard in an unincorporated area of Oxnard.

The victim reported that approximately 70 gallons of diesel fuel had been siphoned from his semi-truck. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage showing a vehicle scouting the property and inspecting parked trucks. Minutes later, a large white Ford Econoline-style van arrived, and several suspects exited the vehicle and siphoned fuel from a truck, authorities said. Although investigators initially could not identify the vehicles, the Sheriff's Office's Flock automated license plate reader system helped detectives identify both vehicles and link them to other diesel thefts throughout the county. Get Los