A dozen defendants have been indicted for their participation in a string of commercial and construction-site burglaries that have plagued area businesses as well as businesses throughout Southern California and other parts of the United States, according to Ventura County District Attorney Gregory D. Totten.

All defendants, including Guillermo Cazarez, identified as the leader, are in custody in the Ventura County Jail and are being held on bail ranging from $100,000 to $3.5 million.

After raiding several storage facilities leased by the suspects in the case, police seized $135,000 in cash and 31,000 pieces of stolen construction and landscape equipment valued at $4 million to $5 million.

Arraignment was held Fri., Sept. 16.

Police continue to try to reunite stolen property with its owners. For more information about the recovered equipment, please call the Victim Information Line at (805) 494-8259 or visit www.vcsd.org or www.toaks.org.