A prolonged burglary spree targeting small businesses in Southern California, specifically those selling California Lottery tickets, has been brought to a halt with the arrest of a Los Angeles man. Raul Jr. Najera, 45, is accused of leading a series of crimes that left many “mom-and-pop” stores with shattered storefronts and stolen dream wagers.
According to a news release shared by the CBS News Los Angeles, Najera’s burglary campaign spanned from 2024 up until July 2025, during which he is alleged to have forcefully entered stores to quickly abscond with thousands of dollars’ worth of lottery scratchers. The aftermath of his heists left business owners in Camarillo and Thousand Oaks to confront the fragments of their investments, both material and aspirational. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has named him as the “prime suspect” in these orchestrated thefts.
Najera’s capture was the result of a collaborative effort by multiple agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, Camarillo Police Department, and California State Lottery investigators who were part of Operation Jackpot. As reported by KTLA, the suspect and his yet unidentified accomplices would strike vulnerable stores, dealing a blow to local commerce, and then redeem the pilfered tickets in South Los Angeles within hours…