4 Arrested in Sweep of Probationers

Hoping to break a string of car burglaries, sheriff’s deputies Wednesday morning swept through the homes of 17 probationers in Moorpark, hunting for stolen goods.

The sweep ended with the arrests of four Moorpark residents--three adults and one juvenile--on charges ranging from parole violations to intoxication with hard drugs. And in two homes, Ventura County sheriff’s deputies found items they suspect may have been stolen from vehicles in Moorpark.

Deputies organized the sweep in response to a series of thefts from local cars and mobile homes. Since mid-February, deputies said, thieves have struck twice at a downtown mobile home storage yard, entering about 12 mobile homes each time, usually through the roof vents. And officers have also seen an increased number of thefts from cars in the Mountain Meadows and Peach Hill neighborhoods.

Items stolen have included stereos, guns, two-way radios--even a global positioning unit, according to deputies. The thieves left no evidence behind.

“It’s uncharacteristic for us to have that many [burglaries] and not solve them,” Det. Sgt. Terry Hughes said.

Starting at 7 a.m. Wednesday, more than 30 officers fanned out through the city. The deputies who patrol Moorpark were assisted by sheriff’s detectives from the Thousand Oaks division, members of the sheriff’s Crime Suppression Unit and probation officers. They targeted 17 probationers: six juveniles and 11 adults.

Many of the searches turned up nothing. In some homes, the deputies merely talked with the probationers, checked the premises for evidence of violations and left.

In other homes, police found evidence that residents had violated the terms of their probation.

Randolph Hart, 29, was arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and violating terms of his probation.

Robert Lopez Sr., 49, who is on probation for possession of PCP, was arrested on suspicion of having PCP, being under the drug’s influence, violating his probation and resisting arrest.

Jose Meza, 18, was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

And the 17-year-old juvenile, whose identity was not released due to his age, was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of an illicit drug.