Car burglary suspect, T.O. man, 21, is arrested

An investigation of vehicle burglary activity in Thousand Oaks has led to the arrest of a man who police allege is responsible for a series of car thefts.

When arrested, Christopher Panelli, 21, was at The Oaks mall, allegedly in possession of credit cards, iPods, a GPS system and a set of golf clubs that didn't belong to him.

The Thousand Oaks man was arrested and charged with two felony second-degree burglaries of vehicles, a felony attempted seconddegree burglary of a vehicle, felony vandalism over $400 and misdemeanor petty theft.

Police have a tape of Panelli admitting breaking into vehicles and burglarizing them at The Oaks mall and Los Robles Golf Course, Detective Matthew Young said.

All of the vehicles had valuables in plain sight, and all but one vehicle was unlocked, Young said.

The investigation continues as detectives try to match property recovered to the owners of items reported missing. Recovered items that haven't been connected to missing property reports include an iPod police say was taken from a green Durango.

Panelli has been released from Ventura County Jail, and a court appearance planned for April 17 was postponed.

According to Ventura County Superior Court of California records, Panelli was convicted in 2007 of two misdemeanors— petty theft and possession of marijuana. He's also been cited for not wearing a safety belt, for no evidence of current registration and, in 2008, for failing to stop for a flashing red light.

—Nancy Needham