SWEEPS TARGET THEFTS IN MOORPARK : FOUR ARRESTED IN MOORPARK PROBATION RAID.

Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer

Spurred by a recent rash of vehicle burglaries in a storage lot, more than 30 Ventura County agents conducted probation raids Wednesday in search of stolen goods - from pots and pans to guns.

Sheriff's officials arrested one juvenile and three adults, all of Moorpark, and recovered some items on their list of stolen property.

Jose Meza, 18, was arrested on a probation violation warrant. Randolph Hart, 29, was arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and for violating probation. Robert Lopez Sr., 49, was arrested on suspicion of possessing PCP and being under the influence of PCP, violating probation and resisting arrest, officials said.

They were booked at the sheriff's East Valley Station, officials said.

A 17-year-old male was booked at juvenile hall on suspicion of being under the influence of an illicit drug, said Senior Deputy Ed Tumbleson of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

Making ``no force'' entries, agents searched six juveniles and 11 adults in 16 residences. The targets were on probation or parole, and had a history of burglary or theft, Tumbleson said.

``We based our search on their past criminal activity,'' Tumbleson said. ``We know what they're up to. But we just don't know who's committing these burglaries.''

Last month, about two dozen vehicles were burglarized in the RV Storage Lot at Spring Road and Los Angeles Avenue. The lot was hit twice over three weeks, with all break-ins made through roof vents, officials said.

Vehicle burglaries have also surged in the Mountain Meadows neighborhood near Peach Hill Road, officials said.

The list of nearly 60 items of stolen property includes hiking boots, prescription medicine, a hunting knife and a walkie-talkie. Bicycles, portable compact disc players, televisions and car stereos were also stolen, officials said.

Most residences searched Wednesday are within walking distance of the storage lot, Tumbleson noted. The lot is next to the Arroyo Simi, making entrance and escape easier, he added.

With no apparent leads - not even fingerprints - officials hoped Wednesday's raids would steer them in the right direction.

``It's uncharacteristic of our community to have that many unsolved burglaries,'' said sheriff's Capt. Mike Lewis. `` We're trying to identify stolen property. . . . We're not focusing on individuals.''

The searches, beginning just after dawn, were conducted by six teams composed of probation officers, Thousand Oaks and Moorpark detectives, and officers from the sheriff's Crime Suppression Unit and the Thousand Oaks Special Enforcement Unit.

Authorities recovered items they believe had been stolen, including a pair of expensive, night-vision binoculars and a Sony compact disc player, said Sgt. Terry Hughes.

``We haven't been able to confirm the information at this point, but we're pretty sure it's stolen property,'' Hughes said.

The early-morning raid surprised Marcia Boyd, who was getting ready for work when a team of uniformed officers knocked at her door, looking for her 16-year-old son, who is on probation.

Barefoot and wearing her pink bathrobe as agents entered her home, Boyd said the random search will help her son ``stay on track.''

``I wish they would have told us first,'' Marcia Boyd said. ``But I think they should do it more often. Our goal is the same - we want to keep our kids safe.''

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) Police check serial numbers on a CD player and a pair of binoculars found in Wednesday's sweep in Moorpark.

(2--Ran in Conejo edition only) A sergeant makes a call to the station while deputies search a Moorpark home for stolen goods during a probation sweep.

Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News