Pickpocket Suspects Arrested 

October 5, 2024 – Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that on September 26, 2024, the East County Investigations Property Crimes Unit learned of an elderly victim who was targeted by pickpocket suspects while shopping at a grocery store in Thousand Oaks.

Through a collaborative effort with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Thousand Oaks Detectives were able to identify the pickpocket suspects as Cristian Rios Cuadros and Johan Fonseca Garcia.  Cuadros and Garcia were arrested by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies on September 24, 2024, after they attempted to steal the phone of a different elderly victim in Los Angeles County.  This victim had also been shopping at a grocery store when she was targeted by the suspects.

On October 1, 2024, Detectives obtained arrest warrants for Cuadros and Garcia.  The charges filed against Cuadros and Garcia by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office included PC 182(a)(1) – Felony conspiracy to commit a crime, PC 459 – Felony burglary, and PC 368(d) – Misdemeanor elder abuse.  

Cuadros and Garcia remain in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.  Cuadros and Garcia will be extradited to the custody of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office upon their release from jail in Los Angeles County.

The city of Thousand Oaks is an extremely safe community.  However, this sense of safety is occasionally exploited by the criminal element.  The Thousand Oaks Police Department would like to remind citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious people and vehicles by promptly calling 911 or our non-emergency line of (805) 654-9511. If you see something, say something.

The East County Investigations Property Crimes Unit continues to combat property crimes through keeping the community informed of current crime trends while aggressively pursuing and arresting those that chose to do us harm.

Source: Ventura County Sheriff's Office