Theft Ring in Ventura County Busted: Beware of Gift Card Scams

In a shocking turn of events, detectives in Ventura County have uncovered a sophisticated theft ring that has left many residents wary of purchasing gift cards. The investigation led to the arrest of two Chinese nationals who were caught stealing hundreds of unused gift cards from a store in Moorpark.

According to Ventura County Sheriff’s detectives, the thefts were part of a larger scheme known as “card draining.” In this operation, stolen gift cards are taken to another location where the bar codes are recorded or replaced with different ones. The thieves then carefully rewrap the cards and sneak them back onto store shelves. When unsuspecting customers purchase and load money onto these compromised cards, the balances are quickly drained by the criminals.

The county’s Retail Theft Task Force was able to recover approximately 800 stolen gift cards during their investigation. The two men responsible for the thefts have been arrested on felony conspiracy to commit retail theft charges.

This recent discovery serves as a stark reminder for consumers to be cautious when purchasing gift cards, as they may unknowingly fall victim to similar scams. Authorities are urging residents to thoroughly inspect gift cards before buying them and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.

As the investigation continues, detectives are working diligently to dismantle this theft ring and prevent further incidents of card draining in Ventura County. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.