Organized Crime Group Arrested 

December 14, 2025 – Ventura County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on October 31, 2025, Thousand Oaks Patrol Ventura County Sheriff logoDeputies responded to a call for service at a local grocery store located in 700 block of North Moorpark Road in the City of Thousand Oaks, in reference to a theft of a wallet. Deputies on scene determined that an unknown suspect distracted the victim while a second suspect stole the victim’s wallet from her purse that was sitting in a shopping cart the victim was using.  After the suspects stole the wallet, they immediately went to a nearby shopping mall and used the victim’s credit cards to make purchases at two different retail locations.

After receiving the case, detectives with the East County Investigations Bureau began investigating the theft and subsequent use of the credit cards. Through various investigative techniques, and collaboration with loss prevention employees from the involved retail businesses, investigators were able to identify three subjects associated with the crime. 

On December 10, 2025, detectives from the East County Investigations Bureau – Property Crimes Unit and Special Enforcement Unit, responded to the City of Los Angeles and located Luis Melo Carrea, Ramona Silva Gacitua, and Maria Hernandez Puig. All three suspects were taken into custody and booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for Penal Code Section 459(a) – Burglary, 530.5 PC Identity Theft, and 182(a)(1) PC - Conspiracy.  Their bail was set at $150,000 and they are scheduled to appear at the Ventura County Superior Court on December 12, 2025, at 1:30 P.M.  Additionally, Silva Gacitua had three outstanding warrants for similar crimes committed in two other California jurisdictions.  All three suspects are believed to be part of a Transnational Organized Crime Group.

The Thousand Oaks Police Department encourages residents to be vigilant when shopping.  When using a purse, keep the purse on you and secured.  Do not leave valuables in a shopping cart where your attention is not focused elsewhere.  Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @ThousandOaksPD, Facebook @Thousand Oaks Police Department, Instagram @ThousandOaksPD, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories. 

Nature of Incident:

Organized Crime Group Arrested

Report Number:

25-140258

Location:

700 Block on North Moorpark Road, City of Thousand Oaks

Date & Time:

10/31/2025 @ 11:00 AM

Unit(s) Responsible:

East County Investigations Bureau – Property Crimes Unit and Special Enforcement Unit

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent

       City of Residence

Age

(S) Luis Alberto Melo Correa                     Los Angeles, Ca                                                   60  
(S) Ramona Del Rosario Silva Gacitua     Los Angeles, Ca                                                   47
(S) Maria Del Milagro Hernandez Puig      Los Angeles, Ca                                                   66

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for information, which leads to 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).

Source: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office