65-year-old crime victim confronts pair in Moorpark

Ventura County sheriff’s deputies say two men were arrested after a confrontation with a 65-year-old man they tried to steal from in Moorpark.

The incident was reported at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday at the Villa Del Arroyo mobile park in the 15700 block of Arroyo Drive, authorities reported. 

Deputies said they learned that the 65-year-old resident confronted two men as they tried to steal some of his property in his driveway. When the victim tried to record video of the pair with his phone, they battered him and took an additional piece of property, the sheriff’s agency reported. 

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As detectives and deputies were collecting evidence, they learned of a report of a package theft in the area by men with similar descriptions. 

Detectives said they were able to identify the Moorpark suspects as Omar Zaragoza, 24, and Ruben Amezcua, 26, both of Moorpark. 

Zaragoza was arrested Tuesday evening as he was driving home with a significant amount of evidence and a package found in his vehicle, authorities said. Detectives said they arrested Amezcua on Wednesday in front of his residence. 

Zaragoza was booked into Ventura County jail facing a felony charge of attempted grand/theft personal property and misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and receiving stolen property under $950, according to jail records.

Amezcua was also booked into Ventura County jail with bail set at $205,000, according to jail records. He is facing a felony charge of first-degree robbery and misdemeanor charges of petty theft, according to jail records. 

Both men are scheduled to appear in court Monday, according to jail records. 

Mo Jazi is a breaking news reporter with The Star. Reach him at mo.najafianJazi@vcstar.com or 805-437-0236.