Two arrested in Ventura County burglary spree

Mo Jazi
Ventura County Star

Two people were arrested on suspicion of burglary, fraud and identity theft in Ventura on Thursday afternoon, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. 

A monthlong investigation of a burglary spree was concluded after two suspects later identified as Tony Ta, 29, of Newbury Park, and Luisana Cardenas, 36, of Oxnard, were arrested in the 200 block of South Chestnut Street at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, authorities said. 

Crime:65-year-old crime victim confronts pair in Moorpark

The investigation began after deputies received a report of a vehicle burglary in the parking lot of Padre Serra Church on Nov. 17 in Camarillo, according to authorities. The victim's wallet was stolen with their identification, credit and debit cards, authorities said. 

From left: Tony Ta and Luisana Cardenas

Surveillance video obtained by officials showed the stolen debit or credit cards being used at multiple locations within minutes, deputies said.   

Authorities said they quickly identified Cardenas and Ta as the suspects.

Detectives said they also learned of two additional vehicle burglaries thought to have been committed by the pair in Camarillo and Thousand Oaks. Cardenas was also a suspect in a residential burglary and elder abuse in Moorpark, according to the sheriff's agency. 

The suspects were located Thursday afternoon in a car in Ventura, authorities said, and taken into custody.

Detectives said they recovered property stolen from several victims from Oxnard, Ventura, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Canoga Park and Los Angeles. They also seized a 9 mm semi-automatic blank-firing handgun, according to authorities.

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