By F. Scott Faulkner
December 2, 2025 – Ventura County, CA
A months-long theft spree targeting UPS delivery trucks across multiple Ventura County cities
came to a head on November 14, ending in the arrest of five Los Angeles County residents
linked to a series of high-value cargo heists.
According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Baltazar Tapia, detectives
with the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force (VCORTTF) say “the crew
repeatedly struck between April and October 2025,” stealing packages directly from UPS
vehicles and leaving the company “with an estimated $70,000 in losses.”
During the investigation, VCORTTF identified the suspects in the crimes as Los Angeles residents, noting
“the pattern of thefts quickly pointed to an organized operation.”
After weeks of surveillance and casework, investigators moved in on Nov. 14, serving warrants
at three Los Angeles locations with help from the Simi Valley Police Department, Ventura
County District Attorney’s investigators, and Thousand Oaks police units.
Three suspects were taken into custody during the warrant operations. Additional surveillance led authorities to two
more alleged participants, bringing the total number of arrests to five.
The arrestees include: Herson Danilo Gutierrez-Ferrufino, 38; Chris Justin Ortiz, 24; Alejandro
Andres Delgado-Mera, 37; Leivin Giovanny Vera-Diaz, 39; and Ever Lisandro Lopez, 38, all of
Los Angeles.
They were each transported to Ventura County Jail, where they were booked on
felony charges including grand theft, conspiracy and possession of burglary tools.
All five remain in custody on a no-bail hold.
