Arrests made in Wellpoint laptop thefts
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

Detectives confirmed Monday that two people have been arrested in connection with a series of laptop computer thefts earlier this year from the Camarillo offices of healthcare provider Wellpoint.

"It was an inside job," said Detective Steve Arthur with the Camarillo Police Department.

Jessica LaShawn Robles, 28, and her husband, Samuel Robles, 35, were arrested early last month for allegedly stealing the computers from the healthcare company, according to police reports. Jessica LaShawn Robles was a Wellpoint employee, and Samuel Robles worked as a security guard for the company, Arthur said.

Arthur said an additional arrest is pending and an investigation into the thefts is ongoing.

Peggy Hinz, a spokesperson with Bluecross of California, a subsidiary of Wellpoint, said the company had "no comment" because the case was still under investigation.

Between March 23 and 26, four laptop computers were stolen from the desks of workers at Wellpoint's three local offices, according to police reports.

An additional four laptops were stolen from a local division of Verizon that shares office space with the healthcare company, and in January another laptop computer was also reported stolen from Wellpoint.

The thefts total about $10,000 in stolen property, police said.

None of the computers contained confidential patient information, Hinz said in an April interview soon after the thefts.

Arthur said Senior Dep. Marty Luna spotted Jessica LaShawn Robles outside of Wellpoint on April 30 reportedly carrying a stolen laptop.

"She had possession of the stolen laptop that was taken from Wellpoint, and we were involved," he said.

Following a brief investigation, the Oxnard woman was brought in to the Camarillo Police Station on May 4, where she was arrested on charges of receiving stolen property.

A week later, Samuel Robles also was arrested by detectives at the Camarillo Police Station on felony robbery charges.

"With all that's happening, (Samuel Robles) won't be working as a security guard again," Arthur said.

According to police, Samuel Robles is suspected of using his clearance as a security guard at Wellpoint to commit the thefts.

The couple has since been released from the Main Jail in Ventura County. No formal charges have been brought against them by the Ventura County district attorney's office.

Arthur said detectives are waiting to complete the investigation and have not yet filed the case against the husband and wife with county prosecutors.

The detective said, however, he feels police have a "good" case against the couple and that he expects the DA's office to eventually bring charges against them.

Indianapolis-based Wellpoint employs more than 1,400 workers in Camarillo and more than 3,700 countywide.