Ventura County Sheriff's Department

During the last several months, hiking trailhead parking lots across Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties have experienced a large number of vehicle burglaries. Hikers would leave for a visit in the local, state and national parks and forest and an unknown suspect would break into the hiker’s vehicle and steal personal items, including purses, credit cards and other valuables.

The burglar would then go on a spending spree with the victims’ credit cards at gas stations or retail stores within a couple hours of the crime. Often the crime spree occurred before the victims could contact their credit card companies to cancel the cards.

Detectives from the Thousand Oaks Police Department, Ojai Police Department, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department began working together in a joint task force to identify and stop these crimes. By sharing intelligence, tips and information, detectives were able to piece together enough information to identify a suspect, James Vivan Melton of Oxnard.

On June 9, 2011, the task force converged on the 300 block of South G Street in the City of Oxnard. They had a judicial search warrant to investigate inside of Melton’s residence and to search one of Melton’s criminal associates. During the searches, Thousand Oaks Detectives located and recovered stolen property from hikers, which linked Melton to several of these trailhead crimes in multiple counties.

The “Park Burglar” was apprehended by the task force and arrested for several felony charges. The Ventura County District Attorney has filed multiple counts of burglary, possession of stolen property, identity theft, and fraudulent use of an access card against Melton. He is currently in custody at the Ventura County Main Jail on $70,000.00 bail.

The Thousand Oaks Police Department would like to remind citizens not to leave purses, bags or other valuables visible in their cars. This becomes an invitation for thieves to break a car window in order to steal property. We could not have arrested Melton without critical tips from the public. Citizens are also encouraged to report any suspicious activity, as it may lead to the piece of the puzzle that solves the crime.

Location: 300 block of South G Street, Oxnard, CA

Date & Time / RB#: June 9, 2011 @ 0800A.M / RB# 11-8888

Units Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Department Detectives

Suspect City of Residence Age
James Vivan Melton Oxnard 46

Officer Preparing Release: Detective Mike McConville

Follow-up Contact: Detective Mike McConville / (805) 494-8219

Date of Release: June 17, 2011

Approved By: Captain Tim Hagel