Jose Luis Luna, 56, Santa Paula.

A Santa Paula resident was arrested Wednesday for the theft of a vehicle in the city of Fillmore on April 4, 2018. The victim, who is a Fillmore resident, reported that his vehicle had been stolen from the parking lot of a grocery store in Fillmore while he had been inside shopping. On April 6, 2018, the victim was in the city of Santa Paula and found his stolen vehicle parked in a condominium complex, where two men appeared to be working on the vehicle. The two men fled the area when the victim approached them.

The investigation revealed Jose Luna was one of the two suspects who had fled the area and was responsible for the theft of the vehicle. On May 2, 2018, Fillmore detectives located Luna near the 400-block of Harvard Boulevard in Santa Paula and arrested him for vehicle theft. Luna was booked at the Pre-Trail Detention Facility for vehicle theft, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Luna is currently in custody awaiting arraignment with a bail of $75,000.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind citizens to keep vehicles locked and to not leave the keys inside their unattended automobiles. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity, such as people looking into cars and/or loitering where vehicles are parked.

Prepared by: Detective Bill Meixner #3695, Approved by: Captain Eric Tennessen.