SIMI VALLEY : Stereo Shop Owner Suspect in Robberies

A Reseda stereo store owner was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit armed robberies at two stereo equipment stores in Simi Valley and Irvine, Simi Valley detectives said Monday .

Dennis Barish , 35, of Chatsworth posted bail Monday at Ventura County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on Friday, authorities said.

Simi Valley Police Detective Tom Marshall said investigators focused on Barish as a suspect because he was seen by employees in both stores several days before they were robbed in February and May.

Across the street from Barish’s stereo store in Reseda is a U-Haul company that loaned out trucks to Barish on the days the robberies occurred, Marshall said.

Detectives served search warrants at Barish’s house and business on Friday and recovered some of the $110,000 worth of stereo equipment stolen from both stores.

Marshall said investigators do not believe Barish was actually involved in the robberies that took place Feb. 3 at Hi Fonics Corp. in Simi Valley and on May 27 at Advanced Marketing and Distributors of Irvine.

Marshall said, “He didn’t do the actual robbery. We feel he cased the joints and rented the U-Hauls for the robberies.”