Vandals Steal and Damage Equipment at New Business

A moving company that was set to open its doors soon was burglarized and vandalized, robbed of a forklift, computer equipment and other items valued at more than $50,000, police said Sunday.

The crimes occurred at the Moving Connection in the 1300 block of North Olive Street some time between 8:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday, police said.

“What struck me as unusual is that you have a combination of crimes,” said Ventura Police Sgt. Mark Stadler. “There was large equipment stolen and the type of vandalism that typically kids would do.”

Police believe at least two burglars broke into the large warehouse by prying back a piece of the building’s metal siding.

Once inside, the burglars used the teeth of the forklift to drive holes into an empty hot tub, a refrigeration unit, a television and some of the walls. Locked boxes mounted on a utility truck were also broken into, Stadler said.

It is unclear whether the forklift was driven away from the scene, which is in a residential neighborhood, or whether it was loaded onto a truck and hauled away, Stadler said.