On Sunday, 01-20-2013, at approximately 7:28 am, Officers responded to the 1400 block of Carlotta Drive in reference to a report of a stolen vehicle that just occurred. As Hemet Police Officer Cunningham was obtaining information from the reporting party, other officers were alerted of the stolen vehicle and it's description.
The reporting party (R/P) advised that her purse was in the vehicle when it was stolen and she had called her daughter after calling the police. The R/P’s daughter saw her mother’s vehicle on Menlo Avenue at San Jacinto Street. The R/P’s daughter was able to get a good look of the driver as the vehicle passed her. The R/P’s daughter made a u-turn and followed the vehicle while she called Hemet Police.
The R/P’s daughter lost sight of the vehicle in the area of Girard Street and Devonshire Avenue. Officers responded to the area where the vehicle was last seen by the daughter. Hemet Police Officer Florez soon located the stolen vehicle in a carport in the 1800 block of Mayflower Place. A description of the suspect driver was transmitted via police radio.
A short time later, Hemet Police Officer Paez saw a male matching the suspect description near the corner of Mayflower Street and Mayflower Place. When the suspect saw officers he turned and ran out of sight. Officer Paez located some surveillance cameras in the area. He was able to access the surveillance video and observed the suspect run south to some apartments located in the 100 block of N. Mayflower Street.
Officer Paez responded to the location and found the victims purse in a trash can next to an apartment. As officers were approaching the apartment, a resident opened the door and Officer Paez saw the suspect inside. The suspect was detained and the victim’s property was recovered.
The suspect was found to be a 16 year old juvenile from Hemet. He was later transported to Riverside County Juvenile Hall.