NORCO – Two men were arrested for breaking into vehicles and stealing property in the LA Fitness parking lot.
On Tuesday evening, while fitness-minded gym goers were busy working out, two men were scouting the LA Fitness parking lot at 1377 Hamner Avenue in the city of Norco. Witnesses noticed the men going from vehicle to vehicle looking suspiciously into windows. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to investigate the subjects.
When deputies were en route, they were told that the subjects were also breaking into vehicles, removing property and putting it into their dark blue pick-up truck. Arriving at the location, the deputies quickly located and detained the suspects, catching them just as they were leaving the scene.
On further investigation, stolen property belonging to several victims was found in the bed of the suspects’ truck. Witnesses positively identified the two suspects, who were arrested, and the stolen property was returned to the victims. Richard Juarez, 24, was charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of stolen property and violation of probation. Adrian Fuerte, 28, was charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of stolen property and possession of burglary tools.
The Riverside Sheriff’s Department notes in their press release that according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, every year more than a billion dollars in estimated personal property and accessories are stolen from vehicles. The Department recommends that citizens protect their possessions by doing the following:
- Lock your vehicle no matter where you leave it.
- Close windows and sun roofs.
- Hide tempting items, including navigation systems (even the suction cup mounts), phone or electronic device adaptors and power plugs.
- Put shopping bags in the trunk.
- Conceal visible cargo.
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Press Enterprise: Vehicle burglaries prompt arrests
