DO YOU KNOW THEM?—Images from surveillance cameras depict two suspects, one female, one male, who are wanted for stealing lottery tickets from retailers throughout two counties. Area law enforcement is looking for suspects involved in the theft and attempted cashing of stolen lottery tickets throughout Ventura and Los Angeles counties.

Ten burglaries from retailers in Agoura Hills, Newbury Park, Simi Valley and the San Fernando Valley have occurred since June, resulting in an estimated loss of $10,000, according to Detective Dan Swanson of the Simi Valley Police Department.

Swanson said the suspects have broken into several liquor stores by smashing windows; once inside, they steal hundreds of California Lottery scratch-off tickets. They take the winning tickets they find to other retailers to cash them.

“They’ll then take chunks of them, 20 to 30 tickets to one location, 20 or 30 to another location,” Swanson said. “In some cases they’re getting $10 to $15, some $100 at each place.”

Courtesy Simi Valley Police Department The estimated $10,000 police could pin on the suspects includes losses from the stolen tickets and damage to stores during the robberies.

Two of the suspects have been caught on video surveillance cameras cashing the tickets at gas stations and liquor stores in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Local law enforcement agencies are asking the public for help identifying them.

Swanson said they’re unsure whether there are more suspects or if all the burglaries are related.

“We aren’t completely sure that they are all by the same people,” he said. “Word spreads among criminals as to what’s working effectively.”

Call the Simi Valley Police Department at (805) 583-6969 or the California State Lottery Law Enforcement Division at (818) 901-5102 with information.

—Joann Groff