Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Detectives Say Two Men Used Coronavirus Crisis As Cover For Ventura, LA County Auto Burglaries

Detectives say two men tried to use the coronavirus crisis as a cover for a string of vehicle burglaries in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Investigators say Ryan Whitaker and Kevin Reese wore hats and respirator masks as they broke into some vehicles parked near a trailhead in Newbury Park. Even though they tried to hide their identity, with the help of surveillance video one of the two men was identified as a suspect.

Detectives conducted a probation search on Whitaker’s Simi Valley home. They say they found stolen property and stolen credit cars. The recovered items came from vehicle burglaries in Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Agoura Hills, and Porter Ranch. The duo has been charged with multiple vehicle burglaries and identity theft.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.