2 Caught, Arrested In Murrieta Storage Unit Break-In: Police

MURRIETA, CA — Murrieta Police officers caught two suspects in the act of burglarizing the Public Storage on Antelope Road early Friday, the department reported.

The suspect, Estuardo Chajon, 23, of Hawthorn, was being held on $10,000 bail at the Southwest Detention Center. Jose Figueroa, 39, of Lynwood, was being held without bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center. Both men were awaiting a Tuesday court date at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center to answer numerous charges, including obstruction, felony burglary in the second degree, and grand theft, according to jail records.

Shortly before 5:45 a.m., officers responded to a 911 call from Public Storage on 33275 Antelope Road. There, officers interrupted two suspects attempting to break into storage units," according to Lt. Steve Whiddon.

The suspects fled on foot into an adjoining business parking lot, where one suspect surrendered immediately without incident. The second suspect attempted to conceal himself in nearby bushes and resisted officers’ commands.

When he tried to fight with officers, a taser was deployed, according to Whiddon. That suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

"Officers later located the suspects’ vehicle, which was discovered to have been reported stolen out of Los Angeles County," Whiddon said.

Inside the van, officers found illegal narcotics and stolen property. During a post-Miranda interview, one of the suspects admitted to discarding a loaded handgun in the bushes near the scene. A Murrieta Police Department K9, specifically trained in firearm detection, successfully located the weapon.
A search warrant was obtained for the stolen van, resulting in the recovery of a substantial amount of stolen property.

Both suspects were arrested and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center on multiple felony charges.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Murrieta Police Department (951) 696-3615.