CAMARILLO : Condo Association Is Sued Over Theft

After having $52,000 worth of rare coins and jewelry stolen from his home, a Camarillo resident has filed a lawsuit against his homeowners association and management company charging that they failed to provide promised security.

John Sawelenko, 49, an Oxnard dentist, filed suit Tuesday against the Camarillo Springs Townhomes Assn. and Community Property Management.

Sawelenko said that when he and his wife bought their three-bedroom townhouse in Camarillo Springs in spring, 1991, their homeowner’s manual promised that the housing complex would be secured by an electronically operated entry-gate.

In addition, the lawsuit states, the budget for the Camarillo Springs Townhomes Assn. showed money set aside to hire security guards for the entry gate.

But when Sawelenko and his wife moved in, he said “there was no one stationed for security and the gate was constantly open.”

Burglars broke into Sawelenko’s home on July 12, 1991, stealing a coin collection and jewelry, the suit states.

Sawelenko asked his homeowners association to reimburse him for the loss, but the association denied responsibility, he said.

Officials at Community Property Management, which helps coordinate Camarillo Springs’ homeowners associations, said Wednesday that they had not been notified of the suit.

Marilyn Lyon, a manager at Camarillo Springs, said the complex’s homeowners associations voted in October, 1991, to hire a security guard for the front gate for evening and nighttime hours.

She said Camarillo Springs did not hire a security guard sooner because the complex was under construction and work crews needed to be able to come and go freely.