Series Residential Burglary Suspects Arrested

Riverside, Ca-  During the last two weeks of May, a series of daytime residential burglaries occurred in the Canyon Crest / Mission Grove area of Riverside. Officers responded to each of the residences, took reports and collected evidence. A suspect vehicle and license plate was included in one of the reports. Evidence located at scene of one burglary belonged to Nathan Keith Patterson (19 yrs) of Perris.

On June 1, 2004, Officer Robert Arnold spotted a vehicle that matched the description and conducted a traffic stop to investigate further. Nathan Patterson was in the car and was arrested for the residential burglary and for outstanding arrest warrants for other residential burglaries.

The driver, Joshua Thomas Ligon (18 yrs) of Moreno Valley was also arrested for charges related to the burglaries. The third occupant of the car was questioned and released pending further investigation by Detectives who responded to the scene of the traffic stop.

Other suspects are believed to have participated in these burglaries. Most of the property stolen was jewelry and other items small enough to be concealed on the suspects’ person when they left the houses. An exact dollar loss is not known at this time but is expected to exceed $30,000. Property was recovered from the suspect vehicle with more expected as the investigation continues. Anyone with information related to this investigation is requested to call Detective Jim Lopez at 909-320-8009.

Prepared by Leon Phillips, Sergeant, Riverside Police Department, Crimes Against Property, 909-320-8061