Ventura police arrest homeless man on suspicion of identity theft, possession of stolen vehicle

VENTURA, Calif. -- Ventura police arrested a homeless man in suspicion of identity theft along with possession of a stolen vehicle in Ventura on Wednesday morning.

In April, a car was reported stolen from the 2000 block of El Jardin in Ventura.

The car was said to be left unlocked with the keys inside the car.

The car also held the victim's wallet and credit cards.

An investigation was brought out by Ventura Police Street Crimes Unit, along with the Ventura Police Criminal Investigative Technician.

Investigators identified Eric Wimberley, 23 after seeing security footages of Wimberley making purchases with the victim's credit cards.

Wimberley also made online orders using the victim's credit cards.

On Saturday, detectives began investigating a stolen vehicle that had been stolen on the 2500 block of Poli Street in Ventura.

The car was locked but there was a spare key left inside the vehicle.

Based on this investigation, detectives determined that Wimbereley was driving the stolen vehicle and later abandoned it near the Pacific View Mall.

On Tuesday, on a separate incident, detectives saw Wimberley on foot in the area of Empire Avenue and Treble Avenue. They followed him and saw Wimberley walking around residential apartment complex parking lots and peering into cars.

Ventura Police Patrol worked with detectives in detaining and arresting Wimberley.

Wimberley was booked at the Ventura County Jail on four counts of identity theft and possession of a stolen vehicle.