On January 13, 2014, Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit arrested Martin Rodriguez and Christian Granados for stealing landscaping equipment out of a gardener’s vehicle in the city of Camarillo.

Beginning in January of 2013, the city of Camarillo began experiencing gardening equipment thefts from victims as they worked in the yards of their clients. The method of operation was very similar during each occurrence. The suspects would wait for the gardener to finish working in the front yard, and when they moved to the rear of the residence, they would take the landscaping equipment from their truck or trailer. There were thirty-one cases involving these types of thefts in the cities of Camarillo, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, and the unincorporated area of Ventura County known as El Rio during the past year.

Camarillo detectives began an extensive investigation and through collaboration with detectives in Thousand Oaks and detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, Lost Hills station, they were able to identify Rodriguez and Granados as the suspects in the thefts. Detective’s set-up surveillances on the two subjects and caught them in the act of stealing equipment on Monday, January 13, 2014.

On January 14, 2014, Detectives served search warrants at a location in the 14000 block of Gledhill Street, Panorama City and a residence in the 7300 block of Vista Del Norte, in Van Nuys. They located and recovered property that was taken during the thefts.

Rodriguez and Granados were booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for eight (8) counts of Grand Theft. Rodriguez is in custody in lieu of bail set at $250,000.00 and Granados is in custody with his bail set at $10,000.00.

Nature of Incident: Search Warrant and Arrest of Landscape Equipment Theft Suspects
Report Number: 13-25009, 13-21035, 14-830, 14-930
Location: Camarillo and Thousand Oaks
Date & Time: January 14, 2014 at 1230 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Camarillo Investigations Bureau
Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Pete O’Sullivan
Media Release Date: January 14, 2014
Follow-Up Contact: Detective Gene Martinez @ (805) 388-5157
Approved by: Commander Guy Stewart

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).