Off-Duty Officer Helps Capture Phone Thieves
An off-duty police officer and his dog foiled an attempt Saturday by two boys to steal cellular phone service.
Authorities say the boys were using an east Ventura school to hide out while they tried to unlock the security codes of cellular phones stolen from cars.
Ventura Police Sgt. Bob Velez was walking his German shepherd, Duke, a former K9 patrol dog, at 4:14 a.m. when they stumbled upon the boys entering the grounds of Junipero Serra Elementary School, 8880 Halifax St., said Lt. Roger Nustad.
Velez used his cellular phone to call other officers, who arrived and surrounded the school. After a short foot pursuit, the boys were taken into custody.
Officers discovered the boys had burglarized several cars in the area, and had seven cellular phones in their possession, Nustad said.
The boys, whose ages were not released, apparently did not enter the school to steal property.
Officers recovered the phones and accessories.
The boys were booked into Juvenile Hall in Ventura.
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