Perfume Theft Suspects Nabbed In Palm Desert

PALM DESERT, CA —Two men suspected of stealing more than $10,000 worth of fragrances from a Palm Desert business, then leading sheriff's deputies on a vehicle pursuit were arrested, authorities said Thursday.

Deputies responded at 7:43 p.m. Tuesday to a report a grand theft that had just occurred in the 72300 block of Highway 111, according to Riverside County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Christian Lopez.

Two men allegedly entered the business with empty bags, filled them with perfume and fled in what was believed to have been a blue sedan, which was subsequently spotted on Interstate 10 near Date Palm Drive, according to Lopez. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver didn't yield, prompting a pursuit.

"The vehicle began driving erratically at a high rate of speed and onto the freeway dirt shoulder," Lopez wrote in a statement. "The pursuit terminated after the suspect vehicle collided into a tree, approximately four miles east of Cabazon."

The deputies then arrested the driver, 27-year-old Phillip Noble, and his passenger, Dalin Sasser, 24, both of San Bernardino.

Sasser had allegedly attempted to flee on foot but was caught, Lopez said. Noble was detained without further incident.

Deputies allegedly found stolen property from the business inside the car, according to Lopez. Both suspects were subsequently booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio. The investigation remained ongoing.

According to inmate records, Noble remains behind bars on a $100,000 bail bond. No booking information was available on Sasser.

Anyone with information on the theft was asked to call Deputy Barker of the Palm Desert sheriff's station at 760-836-1600.