Oxnard teen arrested for vehicle theft after pursuit and car fire at grocery store parking lot

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – An Oxnard teen was arrested for vehicle theft after fleeing from police and leaving a burning sedan in a Grocery Outlet parking lot early Monday morning.

On March 30, 2026, at 2:30 a.m., a FLOCK license plate reader alerted local law enforcement about a stolen white Infiniti sedan at the intersection of Ventura Road and Pleasant Valley Road stated a press release Tuesday from the Port Hueneme Police Department.

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled northbound on Ventura Road into the City of Oxnard detailed the Port Hueneme Police Department.

According to Port Hueneme Police, for still unknown reasons, one of the Infiniti's tires caught fire during the pursuit and eventually the driver pulled into the parking lot of the Grocery Outlet on Ventura Road at Devonshire Drive.

The driver, later identified as a 17-year-old Oxnard resident, jumped out of the burning vehicle and attempted to flee on foot before officers detained him nearby explained the Port Hueneme Police Department.

The tire fire had spread to the stolen vehicles undercarriage and Oxnard City Fire Department firefighters were called to the scene of the sedan fire added the Port Hueneme Police Department.

The Port Hueneme Police Department noted that the Oxnard teen was arrested for vehicle theft and was found to be in possession of an electronic vehicle programmer and key fobs.

If you have any additional information about this ongoing investigation, you are asked to contact Detective Sergeant Mike Hamrick at 805-986-6541 or through email at mhamrick@cityofporthueneme.org.

You can also report information while remaining anonymous by calling Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or by visiting their website here.