THOUSAND OAKS : Homeowners Stop Apparent Break-In

Two suspected burglars were arrested in Thousand Oaks after several residents leaving a homeowners meeting thwarted an apparent break-in attempt at a shoe repair shop, authorities said.

Matthew Verdon, 21, and Daryle Watts, 22, both Thousand Oaks residents, were arrested on suspicion of commercial burglary Wednesday evening in connection with a break-in at Park’s Shoe Repair on North Ventu Park Road, sheriff’s deputies said.

Police credit several members of the Las Casitas Homeowners Assn., who were meeting at the nearby Holiday Inn on Wednesday evening, with catching the pair. The association has been working with police for more than a year to try to reduce the number of crimes in the members’ neighborhood, Sheriff’s Sgt. Bruce Hanson said.

Association members Robert Bickle, 29, and Jackson McPherson, 33, were among a small group of homeowners walking to their cars about 10 p.m. when they heard glass breaking, Sgt. Gregg W. Whitesell said in a prepared statement.

After running to the shop, the men held one of the suspects who was breaking into the shop while the other fled to an apartment complex, Whitesell said. The other suspect was stopped by authorities as he attempted to flee in a car, he said.

McPherson described his and Bickle’s reaction as instinctive.

“Bickle took out running,” said McPherson, who placed the suspect in a half-nelson hold until authorities arrived. “Bickle’s my buddy and I figured he might need some backup.”

Hanson of the sheriff’s crime prevention unit said members of the homeowners’ association have tried for more than 18 months to reduce the number of disturbances caused in their neighborhood by loud parties and drinking.

On Thursday, the citizen activists received a phone call from Hanson congratulating them on their crime-prevention effort.