Two 16-year-old boys suspected of breaking into a Riverside home and stealing several guns were caught thanks to the quick action of an alert resident, a police lieutenant said today.
The teenagers, whose names were not released, were arrested on suspicion of burglary around 11:30 a.m. Monday.
Both are being at Riverside Juvenile Hall.
According to Riverside police Lt. Dan Hoxmeier, the suspects broke into a house in the 8700 block of Sorrento Drive, grabbing three guns and other items before being interrupted by the property owner, who called 911 as the juveniles fled.
The police department’s Air-1 helicopter unit flew to the scene and spotted the boys near Shelby Drive and California Avenue, Hoxmeier said.
The Air-1 crew broadcast several warnings for the suspects to stop and surrender, but they kept running, according to police.
“A local homeowner was taking out his trash when he heard the police helicopter overhead,” Hoxmeier said. “The homeowner saw the young men running and noticed one of them was carrying a firearm at his side. The homeowner, an off-duty security guard, retrieved a firearm from his residence and returned outside to find the suspects near some bushes … He confronted them and ordered them to stop, lay down and show their hands.”
The youths complied and were taken into custody moments later by arriving police officers, according to Hoxmeier.
Hoxmeier commended the helicopter crew and the resident, citing the incident as an example of the “partnership between the community and their police department.”
Investigators believe the pair may be responsible for other burglaries in the same general area. Anyone with information related to the case was asked to call Detective Dave Riederman at (951) 353-7949.
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