THOUSAND OAKS : 2 Teen-Agers Admit String of Burglaries, Officials Say

Two of three Simi Valley teen-agers arrested in connection with a Thousand Oaks burglary Tuesday have confessed to committing a series of break-ins and directed investigators to a stash of stolen goods, authorities said.

James Justin and Todd Hoult, both 19, cooperated with Ventura County sheriff’s investigators after they were arrested over the burglary of a residence in the 1500 block of El Monte Drive, Sheriff’s Lt. Bill Montijo said.

Also arrested was Christopher Camarena, 19.

A resident notified police at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday that three men were in a neighbor’s back yard, Montijo said.

Camarena and Justin were caught after a brief foot chase outside the residence, Montijo said.

A search by a helicopter and a canine unit failed to locate the third man, Montijo said.

An investigation determined that a side window of the house had been pried off, and jewelry, cameras, coins and cash were placed in several bags, Montijo said.

Justin admitted during an interview with detectives that the three had been involved in two burglaries in Simi Valley and

another in Thousand Oaks in the last month, Sheriff’s Detective Bill Gentry said. Justin also consented to a search of his Simi Valley residence, which he shared with Hoult, Gentry said.

During the search, Hoult spoke to a detective and then turned himself in at the East Valley substation, Montijo said.

The property recovered from the residence was worth an estimated $6,000 to $10,000, Sheriff’s Detective Pat Dain said.

Justin told investigators that the three had worked as a team and specialized in taking coins, jewelry, cash, cameras, stereos and guns, Gentry said.