Three Los Angeles Men Arrested for Brazen Landscaping Equipment Thefts in Fillmore

A multi-agency investigation has put a stop to a high-speed theft ring that was targeting professional gardeners and landscapers across Ventura County. On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, deputies from the Fillmore Station, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol, arrested three men from Los Angeles County following a series of bold daytime thefts. The arrests took place after a white van, which had just been involved in a robbery in Fillmore, was intercepted during a traffic stop near Piru.

Gang Affiliations and Violent Criminal Histories

The suspects have been identified as 41-year-old Oscar Fajardo-Cely of Pasadena, 31-year-old Alexander Rodriguez of Compton, and 27-year-old Yiset Rodriguez-Mora of Tujunga. Investigators revealed that all three men have documented affiliations with criminal street gangs in Los Angeles. Their criminal records include serious prior convictions, with the Compton resident currently on active parole for a shooting and the Pasadena man wanted on an active felony warrant for firearm possession and vehicle theft.

Detectives had been tracking the group since a December 15, 2025, incident where thousands of dollars worth of equipment was snatched from a job site on Casner Way. The break in the case came this week when a witness reported a white van stealing gardening tools on Carriage Place. Within minutes, a CHP officer spotted the van on Telegraph Road and initiated a high-risk stop. A subsequent search of the vehicles uncovered a freshly stolen lawnmower, specialized burglary tools, and a quantity of controlled substances.

Facing Conspiracy and Terrorism Charges

All three men were booked at the Fillmore Sheriff’s Station on a laundry list of felony charges. These include grand theft, possession of burglary tools, and criminal gang conspiracy. Additionally, prosecutors have added charges of street terrorism due to the suspects' active gang status and the coordinated nature of the crimes. The Compton suspect is also being held on a parole violation, which prevents him from being released on bail.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is using this bust to highlight the rise in "follow-home" style thefts targeting blue-collar workers. They noted that the suspects often targeted landscapers who were busy working in backyards, allowing the thieves to quickly empty trucks parked on the street. With these three individuals in custody, detectives are now working with Los Angeles authorities to determine if the crew is responsible for dozens of similar thefts reported across the San Fernando Valley and the San Gabriel Valley over the last two months.