Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On 8/18/2012, deputies from the Moorpark Police Department were dispatched to a theft call in the 15300 block of Seitz Court in the City of Moorpark. When they arrived, deputies spoke with two neighbors who explained that about two weeks prior, they hired a contractor, claiming to be an owner of "Guardian Fence" to install a fence between their yards. The neighbors told deputies that the contractor accepted their money but never returned to complete the work. After several days of not showing up, the neighbors called Guardian Fence, and learned that the contractor who accepted their funds, was actually a sub-contractor with no authority to represent the company, make bids or accept funds. Deputies learned that the suspect, identified as Theodore "Ted" Diamond, requested and accepted personal checks from both neighbors made out directly in the name of "Ted Diamond.”

A report was generated and an investigation was initiated into the activities of Diamond. Detectives spoke with the actual owners of Guardian Fence, and learned that they had occasionally employed Diamond as a sub-contractor, off and on, for several months. They also learned that during the week of 8/20/2012, Diamond had misrepresented himself to at least 7 victims, as an employee of Guardian Fence. In each instance, Diamond made a bid to perform work and received cash or a personal check made out to him. In most of the instances, the work was never performed. The owners reiterated that Diamond had no authority to make bids, receive funds or act as an agent of the company.

The owners added that around May of 2012, they signed up, at the urging of Diamond, to subscribe with an internet marketing service that provided leads to contractors who were seeking potential customers. The internet service provided weekly messages to their subscribers of customers seeking contractors to perform construction work. The owners soon learned that Diamond had surreptitiously arranged to have his name and his girlfriend's name replaced as the points of contact, which was how he obtained many of the different customer/ victims.

On 8/21/2012, detectives located Diamond, with the assistance of the Thousand Oaks Police Department Special Enforcement Unit and arrested him for theft by false pretenses while he was working as a construction laborer for a different construction company. Diamond was interviewed and booked into custody at the Ventura County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

After Diamond’s arrest, detectives continued to investigate his activities and learned of additional victims throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The total dollar loss was determined to be several thousand dollars. Detectives also learned Diamond was a wanted fugitive from the East Coast for the same type of activity. A case was prepared and filed with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for nine felony and two misdemeanor counts of theft including identity theft with the owners of Guardian Fence identified as victims. Anyone who feels that they may be a victim of Diamond is invited to call the Moorpark Police Department.

Nature of Incident: Identity Theft Arrest
Report Number: 12-19067
Location: Numerous locations throughout Ventura County
Date & Time: July - August 2012
Unit Responsible: Moorpark Police Department Investigations
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S) Theodore Diamond
(V) Guardian Fence
(V) Numerous subjects throughout Ventura County Thousand Oaks 35
Deputy Preparing Media Release: Sergeant Victor Fazio
Media Release Date: August 28, 2012
Follow-Up Contact: Detective Kevin Lynch (805) 532-2700
Approved by: Captain Ron Nelson

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