SIMI VALLEY : 2 Accused of Theft From Storage Firm

Two men were arrested in Simi Valley early Thursday for allegedly stealing $10,000 worth of belongings from a storage company.

Richard Persing, 19, and Terry Wells, 22, both of Simi Valley, were being held Thursday at the East Valley sheriff’s station on suspicion of commercial burglary, said Lt. Neal Rein of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

At 2:30 a.m., the Sheriff’s Department received a call from a security guard who was suspicious of a van driving near the West Valley Storage and Van Lines at 440 Easy St., Rein said.

When deputies arrived, however, the vehicle was not visible and deputies were unable to find any evidence of a crime at the company, Rein said.

Two hours later, Sheriff’s Deputy Bo Stephenson observed the same van, Rein said.

Stephenson stopped the van, which was driven by Persing and Wells, and found a pair of bolt cutters, Rein said. Stephenson arrested the men, and the Sheriff’s Department later found $10,000 worth of stolen property taken from the company in the apartment that the men shared, Rein said.