Ojai Valley News Blog

FROM Sgt. Joe Evans
Good morning Watchers. Well I was out of the office last week and WOW what happened. Well let me tell you. First of all we had 61 new members sign up for City Watch. I want to welcome all our new members and thank them for joining our team. We are growing at an alarming rate. (If I was a crook I would be feeling out numbered about now.) Keep up the good work, you are sending a strong message to those crooks who think we are not watching. Here is a little something for those crooks who come into our neighborhoods to remember, We are watching and we will call the police and continue to watch as you go to jail.    

This weekend a very observant citizen saw two subjects sitting in a car parked in front of the Subway Restaurant. The two subjects just did not look right and were acting suspicious. Our citizen acted on what she saw and called the police. When your deputies arrived in the area the vehicle with the subjects was gone. A quick search of the area found the vehicle and subjects leaving the Circle K market. To make a long story short, deputies stopped the vehicle and found two of our local gang members inside. The investigation led to the arrest of both gang members. Deputies found evidence linking these two crooks to some of our vehicle and residential burglaries and similar crimes in the City of Ventura. They also had burglary tools in their possession and stolen property belonging to several of our victims. Your station Detectives are now trying to link these crooks to other crimes in our area and the city of Ventura. 

Your station detectives need your help.
The detectives have recovered several items of stolen property and are trying to find the proper owners. Two of the items recovered are black 30 gig I pod’s. One of the I pod’s has several pictures of an adult male in his twenties holding what looks like his young child. (really a cute pictures) Anyway the detectives are trying to locate the owner of this I pod. If you have had a I pod stolen that has this type of pictures in it please call us. We would like to give this lucky father his property back. 

This is still another example of a citizen seeing something that they thought was out of place and calling the police. It seems that more times than not your feelings and suspicions are correct and by calling the police you continue to catch crooks and keep our neighborhoods safe and free from the fear of crime.

WOW not again
I have say that you guys are getting pretty good at this crook catching thing. Since we all got into City Watch your deputies have noticed an increase in the calls for suspicious activity in our neighborhoods. 

Just yesterday one of our watchers noticed a suspicious vehicle in the area of the Corner market on Burnham Rd. The watcher thought the vehicle may be involved in drug dealing of some type. Well the call was made and your deputies responded. Deputies stopped the vehicle as it was leaving the area. No drug dealing was found but the driver was driving while under the influence of alcohol and arrested. This is a residential area and we do not want nor will we tolerate drunk drivers in our neighborhoods.

Many of you know that we have a sister program in the Fillmore area called Farm Watch. I  receive all the Farm Watch Alerts just as they receive all of our alerts. This relationship is very important and allows the two programs to help with controlling crime in both communities.

Please take time to read the following Farm Watch Alert from my friend Chief Tim Hagel of the Fillmore Police Department. This alert concerns our local farmers and we all know how important they are to our community.

Again thanks for all you do and keep up the good work, your friend and neighbor, Joe

Farm Watch members
We have a member who needs help. Yesterday , one of our Farm Watch members in Fillmore was victim to a commercial burglary.  This was a huge burglary. Our Sheriff’s C.S.I and Detectives were on scene through the day…  Our Farm Watch member lost over 33 brand new Stihl Chainsaws and Stihl Power Pruner Poles.  These are new out of the box machines. These burglars were very organized and were well planned. They forced their way into the business when it was closed and no one was around.

We need your help. 
If you have any idea of suspects, call Detective TaurinoFarm Watch members,

We have a member who needs help.Yesterday , one of our Farm Watch members in Fillmore was victim to a commercial burglary.  This was a huge burglary. Our Sheriff’s C.S.I and Detectives were on scene through the day…  Our Farm Watch memberlost over 33 brand new Stihl Chainsaws and Stihl Power Pruner Poles.  These are new out of the box machines. These burglars were very organized and were well planned. They forced their way into the business when it was closed and no one was around.

We need to act fast. 
Here is what we can all do as a team.Our Detectives and Sheriff’s Crime Analysis Units are contacting Police agencies around Southern California, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. They will fill them in with the details and see if we can find a pattern or suspects. Our Fillmore Detectives will call all the Stihl Farm Dealers in the same areas and warn them to be on the look out to avoid becoming the next victim.

This is just wrong.  we are seeing such a rise in these cases.  Can you please keep your eyes and ears open looking for someone trying to sell discounted Stihl equipment. Also, for the next three to four weeks, help us out by watching Ebay and Craig’s List in the four local counties. As you look, don’t just search the net in Ventura County.I searched last night and found only one local for sale. It wasn’t ours. 

Watch the Farm and Machinery sections at local online used sales web-sites for someone selling low reserve priced new saws and pole trimmers, backpack blowers. Our suspects will be new listings, not the normal legitimate vendors..

We need your help
If you have any idea of suspects, call Detective Taurino Almazan at 805-524-2233 with the info. If you can’t get him, call me on my cell 805-947-8189 Stay Safe and let’s catch these crooks… We owe it to our Farm Watch friend and fellow citizen Tim Almazan at 805-524-2233 with the info. If you can’t get him, call me on my cell 805-947-8189 Stay Safe and let’s catch these crooks… We owe it to our Farm Watch friend and fellow citizen

Tim