burglary

Published on: December 16, 2017

Two Teenagers Arrested for Costly Mischief from Church Break In

On Wednesday in Seymour, IN, two teenagers were arrested as the suspects of an incident involving a church that was broken into and desecrated in November.

18-year-old Shawn Battice and a 16-year-old unnamed adolescent allegedly used the double doors in the back of the Seymour First Presbyterian Church to illegally enter the building in the early morning hours of November 24. They stole the money out of a collection box in the basement, and then located five fire extinguishers which were affixed throughout the church. The pair discharged the extinguishers into the basement, youth recreation room, sanctuary and choir room, covering the organ, furniture and pianos with the contents, according to Seymour Police Department Detective Sgt. C.J. Foster. A church trustee reported that the total damage caused was assessed at nearly $10,000.

An official investigation led authorities to the teenagers, and they were taken into custody on Wednesday evening. When Battice was interviewed by detectives he said that he and the 16-year-old did in fact enter the church without consent, and that they stole money and used the fire extinguishers to cause the damage.

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Published on: October 3, 2017

Dog Sitter Accused of Burglarizing Home Pleads Not Guilty

by Staycie R. Sena

In August a Palos Verdes Estates man planning a vacation sought dog walking services through a service called Care.com, a site matching caregivers with potential clients in need, and selected Nephi Henderson of Hermosa Beach for the job. Henderson accepted the position and was provided a key in order to gain entry while the homeowner was away. He has been accused of using the key to steal property from the home.

Police reported that when the victim returned home he discovered some of his personal belongings were missing. He had a video surveillance security system in place, and while reviewing the material he discovered two people stealing items from his home. The recording for the following night revealed three people who stole more of his possessions. He believed one of the suspects was recognizable as Henderson.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Henderson’s place of residence and identified the missing property from the victim’s home, in addition to goods taken from another reported burglary. Purses and clothing that did not appear to belong to Henderson were also discovered leading police to believe that more victims may exist.

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Published on: September 29, 2017

Pair Caught with Stolen Goods from Vehicle Burglaries

by Staycie R. Sena

A car containing two people was pulled over by Ripton police officers performing a traffic stop for expired vehicle registration tags on Wednesday. Upon inspection they located items in the car that they believe had been stolen in a string of recent vehicle burglaries that took place in Santa Rosa and Modesto. In addition, the officers allegedly discovered methamphetamine and a fake gun in the car.

The driver of the Buick, 45-year-old Robert Lenton Ruiz, was found to be on probation and wanted for an arrest warrant for misdemeanor vandalism. 39-year-old Elisa Marie Cabonios, the passenger of the vehicle, possessed an arrest warrant for petty theft. The two were placed under arrest at the scene.

Ruiz and Cabonios are each facing allegations for possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance and destroying or concealing evidence. Ruiz must also face charges for driving with a suspended license and violation of a court order.

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Published on: April 11, 2017

Arizona Man Arrested on Suspicion of Newport Beach Vandalism and Burglary

by Staycie R. Sena

Overnight between March 27 and March 28, several homeowners in the Dover Shores area of Newport Beach reported that someone had attempted to vandalize and burglarize their homes. Newport Beach spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella said, “In each of these cases, an unknown suspect had used brute force, possibly a kick, to force open the front door to the residence.”

Although nothing was taken in those incidents, witnesses had reported to the police that they had seen a white man with a muscular build, along with an SUV near the scene of two of the crimes around the same time.

The next night, between the hours of 7 and 10 p.m. another home in the Newport Beach area was burglarized. “The door was forced open in the same manner as the other homes,” Manzella said. The resident was not home at the time of the crime. According to Manzella, watches and several items of jewelry were stolen.

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Published on: March 23, 2017

Carson Felon Charged with Pimping in Orange County While Out on Bail

by Staycie R. Sena

According to prosecutors, 29 year-old Rico Christopher Clayton, of Carson, had allegedly recruited a woman to participate in prostitution on February 8th. He allegedly advertised her sex services online. On that same day, officers on the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force had responded to an online ad and arranged a meeting with the woman.

Clayton was allegedly seen dropping the woman off at a Fullerton motel where the meeting had been arranged with the undercover officer. Clayton had also allegedly made calls and sent text messages to the woman indicating that he was pimping her. Clayton was out on bail for another pimping charge in Los Angeles at the time.

He was charged on Monday with one felony count of pimping and pandering. He is facing sentencing enhancements for committing the crime while out on bail in addition to a previous strike conviction for burglary in 2007. If found guilty, Clayton faces up to 15 years in prison, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

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Published on: December 22, 2016

Flash Mob Stealing Makeup Finally Caught

by Staycie R. Sena

Several Ulta beauty stores have been hit by thieves all around the Southern California area, including the Cerritos, Lakewood, Tustin, Rosemead, Redondo Beach, and The Rolling Hills Estates stores. Stores are claiming estimated loss of $100,000.

Seargant Mark Moffet of the Lomita Sheriff’s Department has said the thieves operated in what he called a “mob style.” They would enter the store as a group, spread out and stuff as much merchandise in their pockets as they could, and then rush out before police had a chance to arrive.

An eight person team hit the Rolling Hills Estates store, where officers were able to identify a known gang member as one of the suspects. “Once we identified some players, the flood gates opened up,” Sergeant Moffet said.

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