By F. Scott Faulkner
July 15, 2025 – Santa Barbara County, Ca
A Van Nuys woman is behind bars after a high-dollar retail theft spree that allegedly spanned
three Southern California cities and possibly much farther.
According to Lompoc Police Department spokesman Sgt. Scott Morgan, Jennifer Hurtado, 29,
was arrested on the evening of July 10, by Lompoc Police officers after stealing “more than
$1,600 in merchandise from the Ulta Beauty store in Lompoc.”
The arrest occurred just after 6 p.m., when store employees spotted her leaving and quickly contacted police with a description
and license plate number of her vehicle.
LPD officers responding to the scene “spotted the suspect’s vehicle nearby and conducted a
traffic stop.”
Inside Hurtado’s car, they found not only the merchandise reported stolen in
Lompoc but also a large haul taken earlier the same day from Ulta Beauty stores in Goleta and
Oxnard.
During the stop, officers recovered over $7,600 in stolen merchandise, at which time Hurtado
“verbally admitted to hitting all three stores.”
The ensuing investigation into Hurtado’s activities indicate that her thievery may stretch well
beyond Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
“Ulta Beauty management advised that Hurtado is suspected in multiple thefts from Ulta locations in several cities and states, with total losses
estimated around $152,000,” Morgan reported.
Hurtado was booked into Lompoc City Jail on multiple counts of commercial burglary and
possession of stolen property.
