PERRIS, CA — Four men were recently charged in connection with a string of thefts across Southern California in which over $50,000 worth of air conditioning units were stolen from new home construction sites, according to police, who said the probe was led by investigators in southwest Riverside County.

Those facing charges include 41-year-old Pedro Perez Gomez and 43-year-old Jose Servin Perez, both of Santa Ana, along with Santiago Garcia, 51, of Riverside, and Armando Lopez, 58, of Garden Grove, police announced Tuesday.

The Robbery Burglary Suppression Team at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office station in Perris began investigating the thefts in May and learned the thieves were taking the air conditioners to Van Nuys and selling them, according to authorities.

The team worked with Riverside and Los Angeles police as well as the sheriff’s departments in Orange and San Diego counties to develop leads, authorities said. Law enforcement served search warrants in the 7000 block of Woodley Avenue in Van Nuys and the 10000 block of Gramercy Place in Riverside, where they recovered the air conditioners, according to police.

Lopez was already in custody in Orange County for unrelated charges but will face additional charges of grand theft, conspiracy and vandalism, according to police, who said Garcia, Gomez and Perez were booked into jail in Riverside County on charges of grand theft, conspiracy and vandalism.

Anyone with information is asked to call Riverside County Deputy Sanchez at 951-776–1099 or 951-210–1000.

The post SoCal Construction Site Theft Ring Busted By RivCo Investigators appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The suspects, all residents of Jurupa Valley, were identified by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department as:

• Thomas Balandran, 50
• Sherri Alvarez, 48
• Brianna Balandran, 19
• Unidentified juvenile, 17

On April 24, deputies responded to a business in Temecula where thieves attempted to steal over $1,000 worth of merchandise.

Investigators identified the suspects and discovered they were responsible for at least 10 retail thefts throughout Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties. The family had reportedly stolen over $7,000 worth of items during those incidents, authorities said.

On May 13, a search warrant was served at a home in the 6800 block of Valley Way in Jurupa Valley.

During the search, deputies found a large amount of stolen merchandise with price tags still attached. Other items, including narcotics and paraphernalia, were also found in the home.

Detectives learned there were additional homes connected to the thefts that involved suspects knowingly buying stolen goods to resell for profit, also known as “fencing.”

On May 14, two additional warrants were served in Moreno Valley where over $3,000 worth of stolen items were found.

The adult family members were arrested on charges of organized retail theft, burglary, conspiracy, and grand theft. The 17-year-old juvenile was released to a family member and charges will be filed with juvenile probation.

Deputies discovered that Balandran was on probation for grand theft at the time and additional charges were added to include violation of probation and drug-related offenses.

Investigators believe there are more retail thefts involving the family that have not been reported.

Anyone with additional information can call Deputy Christina Weber at 951-696-3133.

“The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has zero tolerance for these offenses and will continue to work proactively with our allied agencies, loss prevention partners, and the District Attorney’s Office to combat organized retail crime,” authorities said.

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Fifteen Southern California residents, including a California Highway Patrol employee, are accused of being part of an organized crime ring that colluded to profit from fraudulent auto insurance claims, it was announced Friday.

The Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Task Force began the investigation in November 2022 after it was learned that CHP non-sworn employee Rosa Isela Santistevan, 55, of Irvine was illegally selling crash reports that contained personal information about people involved in wrecks across Southern California, according to Friday’s announcement from the California Department of Insurance.

The conspiracy began after ringleader Andre Angelo Reyes, 36, of Corona befriended Santistevan and other CHP employees by donating to various events and parties hosted by the state agency, according to the CDI.

The cozy relationship led to Santistevan illegally selling thousands of traffic reports to Reyes, who then gave the ill-gotten information to 26-year-old Pomona resident Esmeralda Parga. Parga would contact the people named in the reports, pretending to be from their insurance company, and coordinate having their vehicles towed to an “approved” repair center, the CDI alleged.

Tow truck drivers cooperated in the scheme by taking victims’ vehicles to CA Collision, owned by Anthony Gomez, 35, of Jurupa Valley. The shop would hold the vehicles hostage and demand cash payment from the victims’ insurance companies, CDI reported.

The crime ring even intentionally caused crashes. One of those wrecks was recorded on a defendant’s phone and discovered during a search warrant service, according to the state agency.

The 15 people allegedly involved in the scheme are charged with insurance fraud, grand theft by trick, and false impersonation. The charges involve 19 fraudulent claims resulting in a $353,035 loss, CDI reported. Twelve of the 15 suspects were arrested Thursday.

According to the CDI, the defendants include:

• Andre Angelo Reyes, 36, of Corona; booked into Riverside County jail with bail set at $700,000.
• Rosa Isela Santistevan, 55, of Irvine; booked into the Orange County jail with bail set at $700,000.
• Esmeralda Parga, 26, of Pomona; booked into San Bernardino County jail with bail set at $700,000.
• Anthony Gomez, 35, of Jurupa Valley; booked into San Bernardino County jail with bail set at $700,000.
• Ezequiel Baltazar Orozco, 30, of Los Angeles; charged but not yet in custody.
• Antonio Terrazas Perez Jr., 19, of Los Angeles; booked into San Bernardino County jail with bail set at $150,000.
• Erika Garcia, 31, of Los Angeles; charged but not yet in custody.
• Israel Avila Sandoval, 45, of Pomona; booked into San Bernardino County jail with bail set at $150,000.
• Luis Alberto Ramirez Jr., 32, of San Bernardino; booked into San Bernardino County jail with bail set at $100,000.
• Robert Arzac, 49, of West Covina; booked into the Orange County jail with bail set at $50,000.
• Antonio Ramirez Perez, 44, of Los Angeles; booked into San Bernardino County jail with bail set at $350,000.
• Brian Anthony Lopez, 25, of Anaheim (no booking information available
• Emily Marie Boatman, 26, of Ontario; booked into San Bernardino County jail with bail set at $700,000.
• Ricardo Parga Jr., 23, of Pomona; booked into San Bernardino County jail with bail set at $50,000.
• Steven Anthony Alfaro, 38, of Buena Park; charged but not yet in custody.

The Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Task Force includes the California Department of Insurance, California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

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File # PE232410044

Details:

On Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at 12:08 p.m., deputies from the Perris Sheriff’s Station responded to a business in the 1600 block of Perris Boulevard in Perris for a report of grand theft. Deputies learned the suspect, who was described as a black female adult, entered the store and stole $3321.00 worth of store merchandise and fled in a blue vehicle. The Perris Special Enforcement Team (SET) assumed the investigation. During their investigation, deputies identified Lisa Warren, a 60-year-old from Moreno Valley, as the suspect responsible for the theft.

On September 29, 2023, Perris SET located Warren and arrested her for the theft. Warren was subsequently booked into a Riverside County jail for grand theft.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Deputy Soto at the Perris Sheriff’s Station by calling 951–210–1000.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File# T232690118

Details:

On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 7:43 p.m., an employee of business reported a theft of fragrances valued at over ten thousand dollars had just occurred. The reporting party stated two Black male adults entered the business with empty bags, filled them with perfume, and then fled the business in an unknown vehicle. Deputies located the suspect vehicle, a blue sedan, and attempted a traffic stop just west of Date Palm on westbound Interstate 10. The driver failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated. The vehicle began driving erratically at a high rate of speed, and onto the freeway dirt shoulder. The pursuit terminated after the suspect vehicle collided into a tree, approximately four miles east of Cabazon. The passenger, Dalin Sasser, 24-year-old resident of San Bernardino, attempted to flee on foot and was caught and apprehended. The driver, Phillip Noble, 27-year-old resident of San Bernardino, was detained without incident. Stolen property from the business was recovered inside of the suspect vehicle. Both suspects will be booked into John Benoit Detention Center. The investigation is on-going.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact Deputy Barker at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station by calling (760) 836-1600.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File # L232200107

Details:

On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 6:47 p.m., Elsinore Station Patrol deputies responded to the 29000 block of Hanging Rock, Lake Elsinore, regarding suspicious person on a construction site of model homes tampering with the surveillance cameras. Deputies arrived at the location and saw three males actively loading air conditioner units from the model homes into a van. All three subjects fled, and two subjects, were immediately detained. The third suspect, who fled on foot across all lanes of the I-15 freeway, was detained a short time later by deputies. The estimated value of stolen and damaged property was $20,400. Deputies assigned to the Lake Elsinore Special Enforcement Team and Robbery/Burglary Suppression Team assumed the investigation. The suspects were identified as 40-year-old Pedro Perez Gomez, 57-year-old Armando Lopez Fitz, and 42-year-old Jose Servin Perez, all residents of Santa Ana. All three suspects were transported and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for charges including grand theft, conspiracy, and obstructing/delaying an officer.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Deputy Pohlman at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station (951) 245-3300.

As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members.  Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776-1099, or by calling 911 if the matter is an emergency.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File # LA230600026

Details:

On Thursday, March 16, 2023, the La Quinta Special Enforcement Team (SET) served a property related search warrant at the 26000 block of Bruce Street, in Highland. The search warrant stemmed from multiple grand theft incidents that were reported on March 01,2023. The incidents occurred at two businesses located at the 78000 and 79000 block of Highway 111, in La Quinta. The businesses had also reported similar thefts at their other locations out of the area. Arrested was Huy Nhat Pham, 32 of Highland, for grand theft, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia . Approximately $3,200 worth of stolen merchandise was recovered. Pham was booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Deputy Chris Williams at the Thermal Sheriff’s Station by calling (760)863-8990, or Crime Stoppers at (760)341-STOP (7867).

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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The post Grand Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of a Controlled Substance appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

File # LA221560012

Details:

On Tuesday, June 14, 2022, the La Quinta Special Enforcement Team (SET) served a property related search warrant at the 64000 block of Harvest Moon Road, in Desert Hot Springs. The search warrant stemmed from a grand theft incident that was reported on June 5, 2022. The incident occurred at a business located at the 79000 block of Highway 111, in La Quinta on June 3, 2022. The business had reported similar thefts at their other locations out of the area. Adrian Van Winkle, a 28-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs, was arrested for grand theft, felony vandalism, theft with priors and committing a felony while out on bail. Approximately $10,000 worth of stolen merchandise was recovered. Van Winkle was booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Deputy Belter Martinez at the Thermal Sheriff’s Station by calling (760)863-8990, or Crime Stoppers at (760)341-STOP (7867).

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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The suspects also caused damage to vehicles on the property. The suspects fled the area in a vehicle traveling westbound on Interstate 10. Deputies intercepted the suspect vehicle as it exited at Cottonwood Springs Rd. The suspects were stopped and detained without incident. Robert Pruitte, age 50 of Salton City, and Jesse Jasso, 56 of Indio, were arrested for Grand Theft, Felony Vandalism, and Conspiracy.

Anyone with additional information can contact Deputy Ruvalcaba from the Colorado River Station at 760-921-7300.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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Palm Desert Station Burglary Suppression Unit (BSU), conducted further investigation regarding a vehicle burglary that occurred on June 28, 2020, in the 10 block of Dominion Court, Rancho Mirage.  BSU identified Anthony Kleeman, 24 of Calimesa, as a suspect for his involvement in the theft, and using the victims stolen identity.

On July 08, 2020, BSU members with the assistance of the Palm Desert Special Enforcement Team served a residential search warrant and arrested Kleeman in the 35000 block of Mesa Grande Drive, Calimesa. During his arrest, Kleeman was in possession of the victim’s stolen property.  Kleeman was transported to the Riverside County Jail in Banning.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone with additional information to contact Deputy Michael Troyer at (760) 836-1600 or call anonymously at (760) 341-STOP (7867) and reference incident #S201800033.

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