Forklifts Stolen From Home Depot: Investigation Leads To Wildomar Man

WILDOMAR, CA — A Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station investigation into heavy equipment thefts across Riverside County Home Depot stores led to the arrest Wednesday of a Wildomar man, the sheriff's department announced.

Anestacio Delacruz, 45, — a convicted felon — was taken into custody at Railroad Canyon Road and Grape Street in Lake Elsinore after a two-months-long investigation, the agency reported.

Delacruz was booked into Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of a slew of felony charges, including taking vehicles without owner consent, grand theft, drug sales and gun charges. He was being held in lieu of $200,000 bail, jail records show.

In December, Lake Elsinore deputies began an investigation into the thefts of multiple forklifts and tools from Home Depot stores, according to the sheriff's department.

Delacruz was identified as the suspect and a search warrant was served Wednesday at a residence on Mesa Drive in Wildomar and at a storage unit belonging to Delacruz, the agency reported.

In addition to stolen goods, drugs, weapons and ammunition, deputies found over $50,000 in cash during the search, according to the sheriff's department.

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