CAMARILLO : Pawn Receipts Lead to Arrest in Theft

Ventura County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 20-year-old Ventura man in connection with the theft of $38,000 in jewelry after they found pawnshop sales slips signed in his name, authorities said.

Merlin Leavitt is being held at Ventura County Jail on suspicion of burglary, grand theft auto, grand property theft and two outstanding Los Angeles County traffic warrants, Sgt. Bob Larson said. Bail was set at $15,243, he said.

Matthew Brown, 46, reported jewelry missing from his home in Camarillo on Monday and told authorities that he suspected that the valuables were taken between May 22 and Dec. 8, Detective Steve Bourke said. The jewelry was not frequently worn, Bourke said.

Leavitt was in custody on unrelated charges Tuesday when deputies recovered sales slips signed in his name from Get-Mor Loan & Jewelry in Oxnard and Gems Loan & Pawn Brokers in Thousand Oaks, Bourke said. Some of the valuables, including gold wedding bands, gold charms, several precious-stone rings and gold chains, may be recovered from the pawnshops, he said.