Crime and Public Safety | Temecula investigation leads to arrests in 40 Southern California burglaries; $200,000 in alcohol and medications were taken

An investigation into thefts of high-end liquor during store burglaries in Temecula led to the arrests of members of a crew believed to be responsible for thefts of more than $200,000 of liquor and prescription drugs during about 40 burglaries of businesses and pharmacies in Southern California, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department says.

Four suspects in the thefts are tied to a Los Angeles gang and were selling the stolen items, the Sheriff’s Department said in a Dec. 22 statement.

The arrests followed an investigation that started on July 23 at a business on the 39000 block of Winchester Road in Temecula. Deputies investigating there learned a burglary occurred involving multiple thieves entering the business after hours and stealing several bottles of high-end, expensive alcohol, authorities said.

Another alcohol burglary was reported on Sept.17 at the same business with similar suspect descriptions, the sheriff’s statement said. On Sept. 24, several pharmacies were hit by burglars throughout Southern California, with the burglars matching the same description stealing numerous bottles of medication, the Sheriff’s Department said.

During an investigation involving other agencies across Southern California, authorities connected the burglary crew to around 40 burglaries throughout Southern California, including Riverside County, deputies said.

The Sheriff’s Department did not immediately provide information on exactly when and where the 40 burglaries occurred.

The burglaries resulted in $200,000 of high-end alcohol and prescription medication being stolen and caused $50,000 worth of damage, Friday’s statement said.

On Dec. 21, authorities served search warrants in the 100 block of 91st Street in Los Angeles, the 4000 block of Nicolet Avenue in Los Angeles and the 13000 block of South Largo Avenue in Compton, the Sheriff’s Department said.

During the search, investigators found evidence connecting the four suspects to the string of burglaries, including clothing, bottles of stolen prescription medication and high-end alcohol, the statement said. Six firearms were recovered during the search, including unserialized guns, or ghost guns, and a gun with an altered serial number.

All four suspects were arrested or were already in custody in other cases. In the string of 40 burglaries, they face charges including organized retail theft, grand theft, burglary and possession of a controlled substance for sale.

Anyone with additional information about the case can contact sheriff’s Investigator Jeffrey Andrews at (951) 696–3000.