July 21, 2023 - Ventura County Sheriff’s Office officials report that a suspect has been identified and arrested for burglarizing a local residence where he was an entrusted employee.  Over the past month, the homeowner discovered expensive jewelry and currency missing from her residence.  The victim took proactive steps and installed a security camera to capture and identify the suspect responsible for the thefts.

On July 19, 2023, the suspect returned and entered the residence where he began rifling through the victim’s bedroom.  The victim called 911 and deputies assigned to the Santa Clara Valley Fillmore Patrol Station responded to the in-progress crime.

Upon arrival, deputies quickly identified the suspect as Antonio Martinez, an employee for the homeowner who was still at the location.  A search of Martinez and his vehicle yielded numerous pieces of jewelry and currency that belonged to the victim.  Deputies arrested Martinez for residential burglary and grand theft.

Detectives assigned to the Santa Clara Valley Station responded to assist with the investigation.  Detectives authored and served a search warrant at Martinez’s residence located in the Newhall / Los Angeles County area.  During the search, detectives located and seized additional stolen jewelry that belonged to the victim.     

Martinez was subsequently booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility where he remains in custody with his bail set at $50,000.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Fillmore Police Department are committed to increasing and strengthening community partnerships and utilizing technologies and evidence-based practices to enhance collaborative efforts at reducing crime and improving public safety of all residents by continued community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @ VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has also established a secure database to log information about who has surveillance systems.  If you would like to register your surveillance information and allow authorities to contact you, should a crime occur in/or near where your cameras are installed, we kindly ask that you email the Fillmore Police Department at: FillmorePD.CameraShare@ventura.org.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Nature of Incident: Residential Burglary and Grand Theft Arrest 

Report Number: 23-92216

Location: 1900 Block Pasadena Avenue, Unincorporated area of Ventura County / Fillmore

Date & Time: July 19, 2023 @ 10:40 A.M.

Unit(s) Responsible: Santa Clara Valley Station Patrol, Santa Clara Valley Station Detectives

Source: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office