By F. Scott Faulkner
November 3, 2024 – Ventura County, CA
Ventura County’s Organized Retail Theft Task Force has been working overtime to stifle the
estimated $10,000,000 annual losses suffered by area businesses. According to Ventura County
Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Baltazar Tapia, the product of those efforts became evident
on the afternoon of October 30, 2024, as Task Force detectives investigated a series of
“coordinated theft incidents” at the Camarillo Premium Outlets.
It was just after 1 p.m. on October 30 when patrol deputies responded to a call from outlet
security reporting “two suspects concealing items” under their apparel. The cops surveilled the
scene long enough to observe Los Angeles residents Cindy Portillo Arana, 29, and Julian Riveros, 24,
entering multiple stores with a three-month-old baby in a stroller and using it to hide purloined
merchandise.
When Portillo and Riveros exited the store, detectives intercepted them at their vehicle where
they found approximately “$1,000 worth of suspected stolen items,” including sunglasses and
clothing. A further search of the suspect vehicle led to the discovery of “methamphetamine
packaged for sale, marijuana, and open alcohol containers.”
At that point, Portillo and Riveros were taken into custody and transported to Ventura County
Jail, where they were booked on charges of organized retail theft, possession of stolen property,
possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance for sale, and child
endangerment.
Pursuant to these arrests, detectives then continued surveillance and observed two additional
suspects, Angel Herrera, 45, and Kyla Hernandez, 34, both of Oxnard as they concealed items
from several stores before exiting the premises and heading to their vehicle. Before they could
drive off, deputies made contact with them, searched their vehicle, and discovered approximately
$1,000 in stolen clothing inside.
Further investigation revealed that Hernandez had three outstanding felony warrants for identity
theft and a misdemeanor warrant for shoplifting, while Herrera had two outstanding
misdemeanor warrants for narcotics possession and being under the influence. Both were
transported to Ventura County Jail, where they were booked on grand theft and burglary tool
possession charges, along with their outstanding warrants.
