VENTURA COUNTY SHERIFF DISMANTLES ORGANIZED CAR THEFT CREW

A sophisticated, cross-county vehicle theft ring has been dismantled following a targeted investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and multiple specialized task forces.

The crackdown, announced on May 5, 2026, resulted in the arrests of 46-year-old Juan Arellano and 40-year-old Ricky Chavez, both residents of Compton.

The two men are accused of operating a coordinated crew that specifically targeted Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks in the Thousand Oaks area for their high-value parts.

The investigation was sparked by a pair of overnight thefts in February. In both instances, victims' trucks were stolen and later recovered with extensive damage, including tampered ignitions and partially harvested catalytic converters.

Detectives from the East County Special Enforcement Unit noted that the precision of the thefts suggested an organized pattern rather than isolated incidents.

On April 9, investigators served a search warrant at a suspected “chop-shop” located in the 5400 block of Gage Avenue in Bell.

At the scene, deputies arrested Arellano and recovered a wealth of stolen property, including another vehicle and parts believed to be tied to ongoing theft activity throughout the region.

Further investigation identified Chavez as a co-conspirator. He was apprehended in Compton on May 5 following a coordinated enforcement operation. At the time of his arrest, Chavez was found to be on California Department of Corrections (CDC) parole for felony assault with a deadly weapon and had an active felony burglary warrant out of San Diego County.

Sheriff’s officials emphasized that the crew specifically exploited older model Silverados specifically the 2001, 2002, and 2006 model years because they lack updated anti-theft technology but remain lucrative for resale in the black market for spare parts.

"We will continue to aggressively pursue and arrest those responsible," the Sheriff’s Office stated, crediting the success of the operation to the collaboration between the Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit and the Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force.