A 20 year old Camarillo man found out the hard way that modern technology is much smarter than he anticipated. Tristin James Yanez was arrested on felony grand theft charges after a security camera he allegedly stole from a local seminary decided to phone home. The unusual digital trail led detectives straight to Yanez’s doorstep just days after the initial crime was reported.
🎥 The Heist at St. John’s Seminary
The incident began on the night of December 14 when two high end security cameras were reported stolen from St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. The cameras were valued at more than $1,500 which pushed the crime into the category of felony grand theft. While one of the cameras managed to capture footage of a suspect in a hooded jacket the individual’s face was obscured which left investigators with very few leads to follow.
The thief likely thought he had committed the perfect crime. However the very technology he stole would eventually become his downfall. Modern smart cameras are designed to automatically search for and connect to available Wi-Fi networks which is exactly what one of the stolen devices did less than 24 hours after being ripped from its mount.
🌐 A Digital Footprint Leads to a Search Warrant
On December 15 investigators with the Camarillo Investigations Unit received a major break when they learned that one of the stolen cameras had unexpectedly come back online. By tracking the IP address and digital signal of the device detectives were able to pinpoint its exact location. They were shocked to find that the camera had been re-installed on the exterior of a private residence in the city of Camarillo.
Armed with this digital evidence the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant for the home. During the search detectives recovered both of the stolen cameras from the property. Tristin James Yanez was identified as the resident and was immediately taken into custody. It appears that in his rush to use the high quality gear he neglected to realize that the cameras were still linked to the seminary’s cloud account.
⚖️ Booked for Felony Grand Theft
Yanez was transported to the Ventura County Main Jail and booked on a felony charge of grand theft. While he may have wanted better security for his own home his decision to steal it from a religious institution has landed him in serious legal trouble. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office highlighted this case as a perfect example of how "modern sleuthing" and digital footprints are changing the way local crimes are solved.
The sheriff’s office is encouraging other residents to register their security cameras with local programs to help solve future crimes. They also remind the public that tips leading to an arrest can earn a reward of up to $1,000 through Ventura County Crime Stoppers. For now Yanez remains in custody as he awaits his first court appearance for the theft.