Burglars ransacked Habitat for Humanity's building-materials thrift store in Oxnard this week. It is reported they stole more than $2,500 worth of property, causing more than $5,000 in damage.
The burglary was discovered by the manager when she arrived around 9 a.m. Tuesday in Ventura County. Organization officials believe the burglary happened sometime after 9 p.m. Monday, when the manager was last at the store.
Burglars tried to break in through two back entrances and then smashed the plate-glass front door to get in. They allegedly stole drills, faucets, personal items from an office and a small amount of cash. The burglars then tried to escape and damaged the other locked doors to get through.
The cost of repairs and lost sales could be up to $10,000. The store re-sells donated building materials and home improvement items at a discounted price to raise money for the organization's home-building mission. The organization has insurance, but it's unclear what will be covered.
A defendant in Ventura County may face misdemeanor or felony charges for burglary, which acts as a "strike" on his or her record, which could result in greater penalties for future felony convictions.
Contact the law office of Ventura County Criminal Defense Attorney
Robert Helfend has over 20 years of experience and will offer a focused, aggressive criminal defense strategy for clients facing various misdemeanor and felony charges in state and
federal court.
He understands what it takes to defend a client in the face of felony burglary charges and welcomes you to call for a free consultation to discuss your case.