Two individuals have been taken into custody following a string of burglaries in Ojai, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Luis Heredia, 25, and Maria Ochoa Hernandez, 36, both from Orange County, are alleged to have been involved in the thefts that occurred late at night on Monday.
The ordeal began when a homeowner in the 1400 block of E. Ojai Ave was awakened just before midnight by loud disturbances. Upon inspection, they found a utility vehicle stolen and property damaged, and the authorities were promptly called. En route, deputies from the Ojai Patrol spotted a U-Haul van that appeared to be fleeing the area, perfectly matching the timing of the crime in question. A deputy later intercepted the suspicious vehicle after observing its erratic behavior. The occupants then tried to elude capture on foot but were caught shortly thereafter, and the van turned out to be stolen too, from Lancaster, adding further complications to the night.
Additional evidence found within the U-Haul linked the duo to the burglary along with another commercial burglary reported early the next morning, at around 5:20 AM in the 1900 block. Upon the investigation by deputies and Ojai detectives, the pieces connected back to Heredia and Hernandez…