Ventura Police arrest man after robbing store and spray-painting walls

VENTURA, Calif. - Ventura Police arrested a suspect in connection to a burglary on the 90 block of W. Main St.

The owner of Gracies’ Deals discovered the store had been broken into, items had been stolen and the store had been vandalized.

Ventura Police Street Crimes Detectives began investigating and using surveillance video.

They were able to tentatively identify Moroni Peters, 25, as the subject who had entered the store.

Peters was in custody at the Ventura County Jail on an unrelated auto theft case out of Oxnard.

On Monday, Detectives spoke to Peters, who admitted to entering the store, stealing merchandise, starting a warming fire, and spray-painting the walls.

Detectives arrested Peters for commercial burglary and vandalism.

According to Peters, he came here from Orange County and is currently homeless.

A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Peters has prior convictions for prowling, petty theft, possession of a concealed knife, possession of drug paraphernalia, and previous arrests for possession of a stolen vehicle and narcotics-related offenses.