Police: 5 arrested on suspicion of breaking into wildfire evacuees’ vehicles

Five suspects were arrested in California, accused of taking more than $75,000 worth of property from two vehicles of residents who had fled the Thomas Fire and were staying in Oxnard, KTLA reported.

Arrested on Dec. 10 were Jasmine Zavala, 29; Maryann Zuniga, 29; and Juan Carillo, 44, KTLA reported. Another suspect, David Rosales, 28, was arrested Dec. 18 on suspicion of unrelated charges and was allegedly in possession of property belonging to people who were staying in Oxnard after fleeing the Thomas Fire, police said.

Lisette Topete, 28, was also arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property, possession of stolen credit cards and drug-related charges.

Oxnard police reported that on the night of Dec. 5, two black Suburbans were vandalized. Items stolen from the vehicle included jewelry, electronics, personal papers, clothing and a guitar, KTLA reported. The victims were a family who drive to Ventura County to stay with friends until the Thomas Fire had been extinguished.

Police estimated that $75,000 worth of property had been stolen, while $10,000 in charges allegedly were made on a credit card, KTLA reported.

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