THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Three Thousand Oaks teenagers have been taken into custody by law enforcement authorities after allegedly breaking into Thousand Oaks High School, causing hundreds of dollars in property damage, and stealing thousands of dollars worth of high-tech computer equipment, public safety officials announced Friday.
The commercial burglary investigation began on July 24, 2026, when patrol deputies assigned to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a break-in at the high school campus, located at 2323 North Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies discovered that suspects had forcibly entered campus facilities, inflicting an estimated $800 in structural and property damage.
School Resource Officers (SROs) assigned to the Thousand Oaks Community Resource Unit immediately initiated a comprehensive investigation into the incident. During their initial on-campus canvass and inventory audit, officers determined that five Apple iMac desktop computers and several accompanying keyboards had been taken from the facility. The total value of the stolen electronic property was calculated at approximately $2,700.
Working meticulously to identify those responsible, School Resource Officers collected crucial forensic evidence at the crime scene. Detectives from the Thousand Oaks Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) and the Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit (DEU) were brought in to assist with follow-up intelligence and surveillance operations. Through combined investigative analysis and evidence collection, detectives successfully identified three primary suspects: 18-year-old Derek Leonhardt, a 15-year-old male juvenile, and a 17-year-old female juvenile, all residents of Thousand Oaks.
On the morning of Friday, August 7, 2026, at approximately 8:00 a.m., detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant service at Leonhardt’s residence in Thousand Oaks. Upon serving the warrant, officers contacted Leonhardt inside the home. Based on incriminating physical evidence gathered during the search, alongside admissions made during suspect interviews, detectives placed Leonhardt under formal arrest.
Leonhardt was transported to the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura, where he was booked on multiple felony and misdemeanor counts, including California Penal Code Section 459 (Burglary), California Penal Code Section 182(a)(1) (Conspiracy to Commit a Crime), and California Penal Code Section 272(a)(1) (Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor). Court records indicate that Leonhardt remains held in county custody in lieu of a $50,000 bail bond while awaiting his initial court appearance in Ventura County Superior Court.
Following the service at Leonhardt's residence, detectives proceeded to the home of the 15-year-old male juvenile suspect to execute a secondary search warrant. Upon making entry and searching the premises, officers located both the 15-year-old male and the 17-year-old female juvenile suspect. Most notably, the search yielded the complete recovery of all five stolen Apple iMac desktop computers and their corresponding keyboards, which were seized and secured as evidence to be returned to the school district.
Both juveniles were arrested at the scene for their involvement in the high school break-in. The 17-year-old female juvenile was booked for California Penal Code Section 459 (Burglary) and California Penal Code Section 182(a)(1) (Conspiracy to Commit a Crime) before being released to a parent or guardian with a signed notice to appear in juvenile court. The 15-year-old male juvenile was booked for Burglary, Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, and California Penal Code Section 496(a) (Possession of Stolen Property). He was subsequently transported to the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard to be lodged.
Sheriff's representatives praised the seamless coordination between campus-assigned School Resource Officers and specialized detective units, highlighting how swift investigative action prevented stolen public educational technology from being sold or permanently lost.
"The Ventura County Sheriff's Office is committed to protecting our community and thoroughly investigating crimes that impact our community. Through coordinated investigative efforts and available law enforcement resources, deputies and detectives will continue working diligently to identify and apprehend those responsible for committing crimes in Ventura County," the Ventura County Sheriff's Office stated in an official release prepared by Deputy Joseph Reyes.
Law enforcement leaders emphasized that school resource programs serve a dual purpose, protecting educational environments from property crimes while maintaining open channels of communication with students, staff, and parents. Officials noted that public vigilance remains one of the most effective tools in solving property crimes and preventing campus break-ins across the Conejo Valley.
"The Sheriff's Office encourages community members to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity promptly. If you see something that appears suspicious, do not hesitate to contact law enforcement. Timely reporting plays a vital role in helping deputies prevent crime, identify suspects, and keep our neighborhoods safe," Sheriff's officials added in their public advisory.
Members of the community with additional information regarding this commercial burglary or other suspicious activities near Thousand Oaks High School are encouraged to contact Deputy Joseph Reyes at (805) 371-8351 or via email at Joseph.Reyes@venturacounty.gov. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Ventura County Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS (8477). Further details on county public safety alerts can be accessed directly on the Ventura County Sheriff's Office official Nixle alert system.
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