Thomas Fire

Thieves steal $75,000 in property from Thomas Fire evacuees' cars in Oxnard

By
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Five people were arrested in connection with the theft of property from cars belonging to Ventura County evacuees fleeing from the Thomas Fire.
OXNARD, Calif. (KABC) -- Five people were arrested in connection with the theft of property from two cars belonging to Ventura County evacuees fleeing from the Thomas Fire.

On Dec. 5, the victims quickly packed up their cars with personal belongings and evacuated from their home, which was threatened by the raging Thomas Fire, Oxnard police said.

The residents drove their two vehicles, both black Suburbans, to their friend's home in the 3700 block of Dunkirk Drive in Oxnard to spend the night. That's when their cars were broken into, and various items were taken.

Police said the stolen property included jewelry, a guitar, clothing, electronics, personal papers and other items. All in all, the stolen property amounted to more than $75,000, authorities said.

MORE: Thomas fire now 2nd largest California wildfire
Thomas Fire chars 272,000 acres, becomes 2nd largest CA wildfire


The Oxnard Police Department was notified, and an investigation was launched.

Investigators discovered that $10,000 in charges were made to a credit card belonging to the victims. Based on this information, detectives were able to identify the suspects involved.

"These people getting evacuated and in their haste are fleeing the city of Ventura. Then they come here and then this on top of that. It's disturbing," Detective Chip Buttell said.

Also during the investigation, Oxnard police responded to a disturbance call on Dec. 10 at the Channel Islands Inn. Detectives learned that this call was related to a suspect they believed was involved in the burglary.

Investigators served a search warrant on a room at the Channel Islands Inn and found property belonging to the burglary victims. Authorities also contacted three of the five suspects -- Jasmine Zavala, Maryann Zuniga and Juan Carillo -- at the inn.

Zavala was taken into custody for possession of stolen property and child endangerment. Zuniga was arrested for possession of stolen property and a warrant, Carrillo was arrested for possession of stolen property, police said.

PHOTOS: Thomas Fire devastates Ventura County
A helicopter drops water while trying to keep a wildfire from jumping Santa Ana Road near Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017.AP
Flames consume a home as a wildfire burns in Ojai, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.none
Brian Bromberg and Wendy Frank pose with one of the horses they rescued from their Ojai, Calif., home. They're calling their survival and that of their beloved horses a miracle.none
Wendy Frank poses with one of her horses at the Ventura County Fairgrounds evacuation center in Ventura, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.none
A man rides his bicycle along the Pacific Coast Highway as thick smoke from a massive wildfire fills the air at Faria State Beach in Ventura, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.none
A helicopter drops water while battling the Thomas fire in Ojai, Calif., on Dec. 7. Ojai, a scenic mountain town, is known for its boutique hotels and New Age spiritual retreats.none
Firefighter Patrick Larsen, of San Luis Obispo, battles a wildfire in Ojai, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.none
Flames consume a structure as a wildfire burns in Casitas Springs, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
A group of horse rescuers who met on Facebook gather in a parking lot in Ojai, Calif., on Dec. 7. They estimate they've saved 100 horses.none
Paul Mattesich surveys damage at his Ventura, Calif., home on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. His family lost their house when a wildfire tore through their neighborhood on Colina Vista.none
Homes scorched by a wildfire line a hillside in Ventura, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017.none
Smoke from the Thomas fire hangs over Ventura, Calif., as the sun rises on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017.none
Paul Mattesich hands a jar to his wife Erica Mattesich while sifting through rubble at his family's Ventura, Calif., home following a wildfire on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017.none
Bree Laubacher pauses while sifting through rubble at her Ventura, Calif., home following a wildfire on Dec. 6. A barbecue smoker and her son's batting cage survived the blaze.none
Rubble and burned vehicles line properties scorched by a wildfire on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, in Ventura, Calif.none
Paul and Erica Mattesich embrace before sifting through rubble at their Ventura home on Dec. 6. The family lost their house when the Thomas fire tore through their neighborhood.none
Flames from a wildfire leap above traffic on Highway 101 north of Ventura, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017.none
A motorist watches flames from the Thomas fire leap above the roadway north of Ventura, on Dec. 6.none
Flames from the Thomas fire burn above a truck on Highway 101 north of Ventura, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017.none
A volunteer passes supplies donated to Thomas fire evacuees in Ventura, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017.none
A woman involved in a traffic accident waits to get towed beside a wall of flames on the 101 highway during the Thomas wildfire near Ventura, California on December 6, 2017.none
Heavy smoke covers the seaside enclave of Mondos Beach beside the 101 highway as flames reach the coast during the Thomas wildfire near Ventura, California on December 6, 2017.none
Smoke hangs in the air as a man crosses Main St. in Ventura, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017.none
''Use caution on U/S 101 between Ventura and Santa Barbara. Fire is burning on both sides of the highway,'' the Ventura Co. Sheriff wrote on Twitter.none
The Ventura County Fire Department posted this photo to Twitter, urging those in impacted areas to evacuate as soon as possible.none
A woman cries as she covers her face near her destroyed home a wildfire swept through Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
Lisa Kermode said her family left their Ventura home as quickly as they could on Dec. 5. "We left. We grabbed nothing," she said Tuesday. "We lost everything."none
A helicopter makes a water drop on hot spots after the Thomas fire swept through Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
A firefighter hoses down the remains of a destroyed home after the Thomas fire swept through Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
Flames and smoke shroud State Route 33 as a wildfire burns in Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
James and Josie Ralstin carry belongings from their Ventura, Calif., home as flames from a wildfire consume another residence on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
A wildfire continues to burn as its red glow is reflected on the beach Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif.none
Firefighters gather in front of a residential area as a wildfire burns along the 101 Freeway Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif.none
A man watches flames consume a residence as a wildfire rages in Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
A man rides his bike past a home consumed by a wildfire Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif.none
Flames consume a home on Via Arroyo as a wildfire rages in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
A wildfire threatens a home Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif.none
A firefighter tries to keep flames from spreading while battling a wildfire in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
Several homes are in ruins after the Thomas fire swept through Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
A firetruck passes burning vehicles as a wildfire rages in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
Greg Smith stands amid the ruins of his home after the Thomas fire swept through Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
Flames rise as a home is consumed by a wildfire Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif.none
Flames rise near a home as a wildfire burns in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
A man rides his bike past a home consumed by a wildfire Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif.none
Flames consume a home on Via Arroyo as a wildfire rages in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
Flames consume vehicles as a wildfire rages in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
In this photo provided by the Ventura County Fire Department, firefighters work to put out a blaze burning homes early Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif.none
Flames rise near a home as a wildfire burns in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
Smoke rises from the smoldering remains of a building at Vista Del Mar Hospital after the Thomas Fire swept through Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
Firefighters work to put out a blaze burning homes early Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017 in Ventura, Calif.none
Firefighters work to put out a blaze burning homes early Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017 in Ventura, Calif.none
Smoke rises behind a leveled apartment complex as a wildfire burns in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
In this photo provided by the Ventura County Fire Department, firefighters work to put out a blaze burning homes early Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, California.AP
In this photo provided by the Ventura County Fire Department, a firefighter works to put out a blaze early Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Santa Paula, California.AP
A home burns from the Thomas Fire in Ventura on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.KABC
The Thomas Fire burns in Ventura on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.KABC
The wind-driven Thomas Fire exploded to 26,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials.KABC
A home is engulfed in flames from the Thomas Fire in Ventura on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.KABC
A home charred by the Thomas Fire is seen smoldering in Ventura on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.KABC
A car and a home charred by the Thomas Fire are seen in Ventura on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.KABC
The Thomas Fire burns a home in Ventura on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017.KABC
The Thomas Fire burns a home in Ventura on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017.KABC
Flames from the Thomas Fire are seen burning trees in Ventura on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017.KABC
Side-by-side photos show an area near Wheeler Canyon Road in Ventura affected by the Thomas Fire on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017.KABC
Multiple homes in the area of Scenic Way Drive in Ventura could be seen burning from the air amid the Thomas Fire Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.KABC
Fire rescue helisopters on scene and starting to drop water.Creative Content
Helicopter forced to land at Santa Paula Airport due to 50 +MPH winds.Creative Content


A fourth suspect, identified as David Rosales, was arrested on Dec. 18 on unrelated charges. During his arrest, he was found to be in possession of property belonging to the burglary victims.

Detectives connected Rosales to a residence in Camarillo, where a search warrant was served and additional property belonging to the burglary victims was recovered, police said.

During the execution of the Camarillo search warrant, a fifth suspect was arrested. Lisette Topete was arrested for receiving stolen property, possession of stolen credit cards, possession of methamphetamine and possession of narcotic paraphernalia.

Since these arrests were announced, Oxnard police said they've received calls from other Ventura residents who said their property went missing during the blaze. Authorities are investigating whether these suspects stole items from anyone else.

Police said the burglary victims packed in such a hurry that they are unsure of what exactly was stolen. If you have any information about this case, you're urged to contact Buttell at (805) 385-7755.
Report a correction or typo
Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.