Crime & Safety
Coachella Valley Serial Burglaries: 2 Los Angeles Residents Arrested
The suspects allegedly targeted residential neighborhoods and gained entry into homes by breaking glass doors and windows.
COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — Two Los Angeles residents remained in custody Tuesday following their arrests for allegedly committing a series of residential burglaries in Indian Wells and Rancho Mirage.
Anthony Pena-Gomez, 39, and Carlos Riquelme-Montecinos, 40, were arrested Aug. 27 and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center, according to a Riverside County Sheriff's Department statement.
Wenndy Brito-Gonzalez of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department told City News Service the suspects were booked on a $500,000 bail warrant, but bail was later reduced to $50,000.
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Inmate records indicate that both are scheduled to make court appearances Sept. 10 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
Palm Desert Sheriff's Station deputies served multiple search warrants obtained by the Indian Wells Special Enforcement Team after receiving several residential burglary reports in Indian Wells and Rancho Mirage, according to the department, which said the suspects allegedly "targeted neighborhoods" and "gained entry by breaking glass doors and windows."
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Among the items allegedly taken were expensive jewelry and designer products, valued at a total of $500,000, sheriff's officials said.
The search warrant led to Pena-Gomez and Riquelme-Montecinos being identified and arrested by the Rancho Mirage Police Department.
Authorities believe the two suspects share a connection with a Los Angeles-area organized burglary group with nationwide operations, according to the sheriff's department.
After apprehending the two suspects, the Riverside Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau, Indian Wells SET, Rancho Mirage SET and Palm Desert Station's Burglary Suppression Team served a search warrant in the 400 block of Cottage Home Street, within the city limits of Los Angeles.
Authorities said they also recovered a stolen handgun in Burbank, stolen jewelry from homes in Rancho Mirage and Fullerton, along with burglary tools, fake IDs and cell phones.
An investigation was ongoing. Anyone with relevant information was encouraged to call Indian Wells Special Enforcement Team Deputy Kendall Martinez at 760-836-1625.
