Cargo Theft Crew Taken Down – $1.5 Million in Cargo Recovered
May 13, 2025 – Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that between December 16, 2024, and January 5, 2025, a Southern California-based cargo theft crew targeted the City of Camarillo, committing a series of auto and cargo thefts. 
The Los Angeles area theft crew stole vehicles as a means of transportation to and around Camarillo, and once there, stole semi-trucks and trailers, focusing on industrial businesses along Mission Oaks Boulevard, resulting in the loss of more than $500,000 in property. Among the impacted businesses were the Harbor Freight Distribution Center, Postal Magic, Custom Packaging Supply, and Plush Beds.
On the night of December 16, 2024, unknown suspects stole a U-Haul box truck from Postal Magic Mail Service, located at 5235 Mission Oaks Blvd. In the early morning of December 17, these same suspects were captured on surveillance cameras casing the Harbor Freight Distribution Center, located at 3491 Mission Oaks Blvd. The suspects cut locks on cargo trailers, scouting the area for valuable cargo. Due to the presence of security guards, the suspects left the area. Deputies later located the stolen U-Haul truck abandoned nearby, along with bolt cutters left behind by the suspects.
On the night of New Year’s Eve, 2024, into the early hours of New Year’s Day, 2025, the suspects returned to Camarillo. Four semi-trucks were stolen from Custom Packaging Supply, located at 3233 Mission Oaks Blvd. The suspects drove to the Harbor Freight Distribution Center and then hooked up two stolen semi-trucks to two trailers filled with cargo destined for Harbor Freight retail stores. Additionally, two pickup trucks belonging to local residents were stolen from the 4000 block of Mission Oaks Blvd. and the 3400 block of Canoga Place. The stolen pickup trucks were used simply as a means to get around Camarillo. The stolen cargo trailers were later found emptied and abandoned in the city of Commerce and near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego.
On January 5, 2025, the suspects again targeted Camarillo. In the early morning hours, they arrived in a box truck and broke into a loaded trailer belonging to Plush Beds, located at 5235 Mission Oaks Blvd. The suspects transferred the trailer’s contents into their box truck before fleeing the scene.
Over the course of the investigation, detectives and crime analysts successfully identified several suspects and their methods of operation. They learned that the suspects, all from outside of Ventura County, were working together to identify and steal significant amounts of retail cargo. The thieves typically stole passenger vehicles to get from their home cities to the areas where they committed the thefts. Once in their target cities, they ditched the stolen vehicle from their home area and stole local vehicles. All of this was done to help prevent law enforcement from identifying them. This crew would then work to locate semi-trucks that would be used to steal large trailers filled with retail property. Once the retail property was stolen, the thieves transported the stolen goods to "fence" locations. With the assistance of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office’s Crime Analysis Unit, investigators tracked the movement of stolen cargo to the 2300 block of Paseo De Las Americas, San Diego, and the 10000 block of Frontage Rd, South Gate, with final destinations in Tijuana, Mexico.
In April 2025, detectives executed search warrants at six locations across Southern California. The locations included residences, storage facilities and businesses. This operation was carried out with support from Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Organized Retail Theft Task Force, the Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, the California Highway Patrol’s Border and Southern Division Cargo Teams, and the DEA San Diego Office.
Stolen cargo and evidence from the Camarillo cargo thefts were recovered at every location searched. With assistance from the CHP Border Division, investigators were able to identify additional victims of cargo theft from California and throughout the country, including major corporations such as Amazon, Craftsman, Samsung, TJ Maxx, and Converse. Investigators also located stolen cargo from an East Coast-based company, E-Lo Sportswear. In addition to the stolen goods, investigators seized narcotics, firearms, and bulk currency.
The estimated total retail value of the recovered stolen cargo was approximately $1.5 million dollars.
As a result of this investigation, (S) Victor Alvarez, (S) Brenda Alvarez, (S) Mauricio Heriberto Gachicoa and (S) Otto Javier Rivas were arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail on charges of auto theft, cargo theft, and conspiracy. Each was held on $250,000 bail.
An arrest warrant for cargo theft and receiving stolen property has been issued for (S) Jose Antonio Hurtado-Bernal.
An arrest warrant for auto theft and cargo theft was issued for (S) Luis Rivera, who is currently in custody at the Los Angeles County Jail for an unrelated cargo theft case.
This investigation remains active, with additional suspects still outstanding. The Camarillo Investigation Bureau remains committed to ensuring all individuals involved in this organized criminal network are arrested.
Investigators believe these suspects are responsible for targeting numerous cities across Southern California, utilizing "fence" locations to store stolen cargo before it is transported to Tijuana, Mexico. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of related cargo theft is encouraged to contact Detective Ledesma or Detective Song at (805) 388-5115.
The Crew’s Moves:
- 12/16 – Stole a U-Haul from Postal Magic
- 12/17 – Cased Harbor Freight, cut trailer locks
- 12/31–1/1 – Stole 4 semis, 2 trailers packed with retail cargo, 2 pickups
- 1/5 – Hit Plush Beds, emptied a trailer into their getaway truck
But they didn’t stop there. Investigators tracked the stolen cargo to South Gate, San Diego, and Tijuana, MX.
April 2025: With help from CHP, DEA, and multiple agencies, detectives raided 6 locations across SoCal—recovering $1.5M in stolen goods, narcotics, firearms, and stacks of cash.
Arrested: Victor Alvarez, Brenda Alvarez, Mauricio Gachicoa, Otto Rivas
Warrants Issued: Jose Hurtado-Bernal & Luis Rivera (already in custody)
This takedown is a MAJOR win in the fight against organized retail crime. More suspects are still at large. The Camarillo Investigations Bureau remains committed to ensuring all individuals involved in this organized criminal network are arrested.
A very big thank you to:
- VCSO Camarillo Investigation Bureau
- VCSO Crime Analysis Unit
- VCSO Organized Retail Theft Task Force
- VCSO Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit
- Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
- California Highway Patrol Cargo Theft Interdiction Border Division
- California Highway Patrol Cargo Theft Interdiction Southern Division
- Drug Enforcement Administration San Diego
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Nature of Incident: |
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Report Number: |
24-127946, 24-158083, 25-3555, 25-104, 25-127, 25-6156, 25-110, 25-116, 25-118, 25-170, 25-204, 25-251, 25-519, 25-661, 25-45768, 25-45785, 25-46198 |
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Location: |
Mission Oaks Blvd, Camarillo |
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Date & Time: |
December 16th, 2024 through January 5th, 2025 |
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Unit(s) Responsible: |
VCSO Camarillo Investigation Bureau |
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(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age |
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(V) Victim |
Camarillo |
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Source & photos: Ventura County Sheriff's Office
