Ojai police arrest man suspected of stealing hundreds of dollars worth of plants

Ojai police arrested a man suspected of stealing two valuable plants from a nursery in Oakview.

On Nov. 18, a suspect entered Desert Images Nursery on the 500 block of Prospect Street and stole two rare plants.

Those plants were identified as Haworthia Trungata and a Haworthia Maughani, valued at $750 and $500.

The manager of the store recalled only one customer entering the greenhouse where the plants were located and noticed him in the area of the missing plants. The manager also noted the personalized license plate on the vehicle the suspect was driving and provided that information to detectives.

Detectives were able to show the manager a photographic lineup and the manager positively identified Cassidy King, 28, of Carpinteria.

Detectives searched for King and located him at his home on Friday.

King was interviewed and confessed to the theft.

Detectives recovered the stolen plants and later returned to them to the owner.

King was arrested for the plant theft and was released from custody while awaiting his court appearance.