9 Teens Arrested in School Thefts

Sheriff’s deputies have arrested nine suspects on suspicion of burglaries at Moorpark High School.

On Feb. 18, detectives with the Moorpark sheriff’s station went to the high school to investigate an unrelated residential burglary case. While in the school’s office, as many as 20 students told the detectives that items were missing from their backpacks, which were in the girls’ locker room, said Deputy Julie Smith.

After interviewing students, deputies Tuesday arrested seven girls and one boy between the ages of 14 and 16 in connection with the locker room thefts. Another boy was arrested Thursday in a separate theft. All are students at the school, Smith said.

Deputies searched the homes of the suspects and said they found several of the stolen items.

The girls were arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property. The boy arrested Tuesday is suspected of possession of stolen property.

The suspects were cited and released to their parents, deputies said.

All the students arrested have been suspended for five days, said Assistant Principal Mike Agnitch.

Deputies believe the girls entered the locker room during school hours and removed money, wallets, pagers, school supplies and other personal items from backpacks.

Once they heard of arrests being made, they passed some of the items to the boy, Smith said.

While conducting their investigation, deputies also learned of a compact disc player stolen from a classroom. Further investigation led to the arrest of the other boy in connection with that theft, Smith said.

Since that arrest, deputies learned of a second stolen compact disc player. Deputies are close to arresting a suspect in connection with that theft and for possession of stolen property from the locker room, Det. Allen Devers said.

“It’s growing tentacles” and leading to other things, he said.