Teen arrested, questioned in connection with school burglaries
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

The recent arrests of four Camarillo teens may have put an end to a rash of local school breakins that one Pleasant Valley School District administrator called the worst he's seen in more than 25 years.

Between July 13 and July 23, there were seven separate breakins at four Camarillo schools. In one instance, the school sustained more than $5,000 in damages.

According to Detective Mario Aguilar with the Camarillo Police Department, investigators were able to link the four teens- one age 17, the other three 16- to five of the burglaries at three of the schools.

Aguilar said police believe the teens were responsible for break-ins at Los Primeros School and Las Colinas Middle School on July 17 and then subsequent burglaries again at Los Primeros on July 19 and Las Colinas on July 24.

The teens, police said, also are suspects in a burglary at Tierra Linda Elementary School sometime between July 20 and 23.

Aguilar said police are still looking into whether the four boys were involved with a July 13 burglary at Los Senderos School. He said, however, that investigators don't believe the teens were involved in a separate breakin at Rancho Rosal Elementary School on July 23.

Based on an anonymous tip on July 25, Aguilar said police were told the 17-year-old was involved in the school burglaries. He said because the teen had an "extensive" criminal record, police searched his home and allegedly found an undisclosed amount of stolen property taken from the burglarized campuses.

Investigators soon learned of the three 16-year-olds believed to also be involved in the string of burglaries, he said. More stolen property was allegedly found at the homes of the three additional teens, Aguilar said.

The 17-year-old, Aguilar said, was booked at Juvenile Hall due to his prior record, while the other three teens were released to their parents.

Aguilar said parents of the three younger teens were "surprised and disappointed" when they learned of their alleged crimes.

The burglaries were not gangrelated, police said. A court date is pending.

Senior Dep. Bob Maclean, a crime prevention officer with the Camarillo Police Department, said police and school officials have met to discuss how the school district can better protect empty campuses during the summer break.

Maclean said those measures included additional lighting, improved doors and locks and to make empty classes less tempting for burglars.

To that end, Ron Riley, director of transportation, communication and safety for the district, said the district is making more of an effort to lock up and store computers out of plain view.

In addition, police are conducting more foot patrols through the empty campuses at night.

Riley said the district plans to seek restitution from the four teens to recover the costs of damages and stolen property.

Maclean said the school burglaries are considered felonies and the teens may face serious charges.

"Criminally speaking, there's no difference between breaking into a school or breaking into someone's home," Maclean said.

"It's a felony. It can stay with them for a long time."

Police are asking for residents help in reporting any unusual activity on area campuses while school is out for summer break.

To report a crime, please call (805) 654-9511.