Married Couple Arrested for Stealing $4,000 Guitar from Thousand Oaks Store

Steven and Jenalle Smith face charges of grand theft and conspiracy after allegedly stealing a high-end guitar and other items.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 12:55pm

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A married couple from Los Angeles, Steven and Jenalle Smith, have been arrested and charged with grand theft and conspiracy for allegedly stealing a $4,000 guitar from an instrumental shop in Thousand Oaks, California. Detectives were able to locate the stolen guitar, as well as several other guitars believed to have been stolen, inside the couple's motorhome in Lake Forest, California.

Why it matters

Theft of high-value items like musical instruments is an ongoing issue for local businesses, with the Thousand Oaks Police Department encouraging residents to be vigilant when shopping and report any suspicious activity. This case highlights the importance of effective investigation and collaboration between law enforcement agencies to apprehend repeat offenders.

The details

On January 8, 2026, deputies responded to a call about a grand theft at an instrumental shop in Thousand Oaks. An unknown male suspect had stolen a guitar worth over $4,000. Detectives later determined the male suspect had conspired with an unidentified female accomplice who was waiting in a vehicle nearby. Through their investigation, detectives were able to identify the suspects as Steven and Jenalle Smith, a married couple from Los Angeles with a history of similar crimes outside of California. On January 26, 2026, detectives located the couple in a motorhome in Lake Forest and recovered the stolen guitar, as well as several other guitars believed to have been stolen from various locations in Southern California.

  • On January 8, 2026, the guitar was stolen from the instrumental shop in Thousand Oaks.
  • On January 26, 2026, detectives located the suspects and recovered the stolen guitar.

The players

Steven Jude Smith

A 37-year-old Los Angeles resident who has been arrested for similar crimes outside of California.

Jenalle Jena Smith

A 35-year-old Los Angeles resident and the wife of Steven Jude Smith.

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What’s next

The suspects, Steven and Jenalle Smith, are scheduled to appear at the Ventura County Superior Court on January 28, 2026 at 1:30 PM. Additionally, Steven Smith has multiple out-of-state arrest warrants for his involvement in similar crimes.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of theft of high-value items from local businesses, and the importance of effective law enforcement collaboration and community vigilance to apprehend repeat offenders and deter future crimes.