Crime Stoppers Offers Reward in 2 Burglaries

Ventura County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information concerning two apparently related burglaries in Thousand Oaks.

In both incidents, burglars broke into empty stores and then punched through the walls into other stores from which they stole supplies.

The burglarized stores were Kidz Stuff on April 30 and Loans R Us on May 5. Both stores are on Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Burglars took a laptop computer, hand-held scanner, answering machine and clothing from the two stores.

Anyone with information about the crimes can call 986-TALK, 987-TALK or 494-TALK. Informants, who can remain anonymous, may claim a reward if their information results in an arrest and criminal charges.

In other cases, the Crime Stoppers board approved three rewards totaling $775.

The board approved a $375 reward, not yet claimed, for a tip that led to the recovery of four stolen cars and the arrests of a Westlake Village man, a transient and two juveniles.

Another $100 reward was approved for a report of drug use at a Newbury Park home that led to the arrest of a resident.

In the third case, Crime Stoppers paid $300 to an informant whose tip led to the arrest of a Thousand Oaks man on suspicion of possession and sale of marijuana.

Ventura County Sheriff Sgt. Kitty Hoberg said Crime Stoppers has authorized rewards of $3,150 this year. She said that since the program began in 1986, Crime Stoppers has paid or approved more than $25,000 in rewards.