House cleaner accused of stealing jewelry from Ventura Co. homes

CAMARILLO, Calif. (KABC) -- A house cleaner has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $30,000 in jewelry from five homes across Ventura County.

In September, Camarillo detectives began investigating reports of jewelry theft from homes in the Leisure Village community. Investigators also received similar reports of jewelry grand theft from other neighborhoods in Camarillo, Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura.

Many of the victims were elderly, but investigators found one common thread in all of the cases. All of the targeted homes employed the same housecleaners - Manuel Cervantes Moreno, 39, of Oxnard and his mother.

The first report of theft was filed in April.

On Thursday, Camarillo detectives served a searched warrant on Moreno's home. During the search, investigators found illegal narcotics, ammunition and stolen property. Moreno was arrested and no other suspects were identified.

Moreno was booked into the Ventura County Jail for five counts of grand theft, possession of stolen property, possession of illegal narcotics, being under the influence of narcotics and possession of ammunition by a felon. His bail was set at $150,000.

If you hired Moreno as a house cleaner and believe you were a victim of a crime, you're urged to contact Detective Julie Novak at (805) 388-5115.

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