Bandits Steal AC Units From Lake Elsinore Model Homes: Sheriff's Dept.

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Three Orange County men suspected of stealing air conditioning units from model homes at a Lake Elsinore construction site were behind bars Wednesday.

Pedro Perez Gomez, 40, Armando Lopez Fitz, 57, and Jose Servin Perez, 42, all residents of Santa Ana, are suspected of snagging the units from the site in the 29000 block of Hanging Rock, just north of Temescal Valley High School, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The three men were picked up after deputies from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station responded to a call around 6:47 p.m. Tuesday about a suspicious person at the construction site who was tampering with surveillance cameras, the department reported.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they spotted three men "actively loading air conditioner units from the model homes into a van," the agency said.

The three alleged bandits took off, but two were immediately caught. The third man ran across Interstate 15 but was captured a short time later, according to the department.

The estimated value of the stolen property was $20,400, the agency said.

All three suspects were transported and booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of grand theft, conspiracy, and obstructing/delaying an officer, according to the sheriff's department.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Deputy Pohlman at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station: 951-245-3300.