riversideca.gov

SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR MULTIPLE BURGLARIES TO LOCAL BUSINESSES

Published: 06/22/2023




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

June 22, 2023

 

CONTACT:

Officer Ryan J. Railsback

Public Information Officer

Community Services Bureau

[email protected]

(951) 373-6032 (Media Contact)

 

SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR MULTIPLE BURGLARIES TO LOCAL BUSINESSES

 

RIVERSIDE, CA – In late January of this year, detectives assigned to the Riverside Police Department’s Property Crimes Unit began noticing a trend of commercial burglaries where jukeboxes were broken into while the business was closed.  These businesses included restaurants, bars, a local golf course lounge and eventually veterinary hospitals. During the investigation, they learned the suspects were also breaking into businesses in other cities and jurisdictions. 

 

Over the next few months, detectives developed information into the identities of two possible suspects.  Since these types of crimes tend to span throughout several jurisdictions, they shared this information with neighboring law enforcement agencies to see if any similar break-ins were being investigated that had not already been reported.  With the help from search warrants and other investigative methods, detectives believed these two suspects were responsible for approximately 28 burglaries occurring in Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

 

On Friday, June 9th, 23-year-old Dache Kelly of Riverside was arrested on a related burglary by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and booked into jail.  Property Crimes Detectives later added numerous charges for commercial burglary, grand theft, and conspiracy.  He is being held on $120,000 bail.

 

Then on Tuesday, June 13th, Property Crimes Detectives obtained a search warrant, and with assistance from our Post Release Accountability and Compliance Team (PACT), served it at a home in San Bernardino where the second suspect had been residing.  They found three handguns, two of which were stolen, a short-barreled and unserialized rifle, ammunition, money, and tools commonly used to commit burglaries.  42-year-old Lehman Mitchell of San Bernardino was located and arrested during the warrant service.  He was later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on multiple counts of commercial burglary, several weapons charges including being an ex-felon, and committing a crime while out on bail or release.  He is being held on $220,000 bail.

 

“We have seen a significant increase in burglaries to our local businesses here in Riverside just this year,” stated Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez.  “Our hope is for our state legislators to amend current laws that will better hold these criminals accountable for damage and losses they are causing to our business owners.  But in the meantime, our detectives will keep working feverishly to protect Riverside.”

 

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation and arrests should contact Detective Vanessa Castillo at (951) 826-5376 or [email protected].  

 

Those wishing to remain anonymous can email [email protected], or download and use the Riverside Police Department’s “Atlas 1” mobile app by utilizing the “Send a Message” feature.  Our app can be downloaded at: 

 

 



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