Thirty home burglaries in San Diego have led to charges against nine individuals, according to Fox 5/KUSI.
According to the charges, the suspects are responsible for over 55 cases of home burglaries that occurred across several regions, including San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles County, and even in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Between January and May, a series of crimes occurred in San Diego that lasted for four months. Although some of the incidents were recorded in other jurisdictions, the most recent ones occurred at the end of July.
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According to District Attorney Summer Stephan, a joint operation by multiple agencies resulted in the arrests made last week in Los Angeles and Riverside County.
The age range of those charged in the case is between 18 and 24 years old. The individuals are Amaya Armstead, 24; Timmon Betts, 23; Gregory Davis III, 19; Daniel Esquivel, 22; Tyrell Haley, 24; Naka McBath Jr., 22; Khaliq Thomas, 22; Noel Torres, 23; and Keshaun Watson, 18.
In court on Wednesday, McBath Jr. and Torres both entered not-guilty pleas. McBath Jr. showed signs of emotion during the proceedings.
During court proceedings on Wednesday, Deputy District Attorney Malak Behrouznami expressed that the operation carried out was highly sophisticated, and required an exceptional level of collaboration among the defendants who came from other counties intending to target San Diego County residents.
During the arraignment, San Diego Police Deputy Chief Paul Connelly expressed his concern over the recent crimes that had been committed in the community, stating that our homes are meant to be a safe haven but the perpetrators took advantage of our vulnerability. He further added that the criminals had exploited the trust of the people in the community to carry out these heinous acts.
The burglaries that occurred in Mira Mesa, Carmel Valley, and Rancho Peñasquitos had a common pattern. The perpetrators would break in through the back door, have knowledge of the home’s layout, and would steal items such as jewelry, designer purses, and money. These mini-crime sprees were limited to these specific areas.
Stephan made it clear that anyone who travels to San Diego to commit a crime will not escape punishment. “This prosecution should send a strong message that you are not going to travel to San Diego and get away with it,” she stated. She also emphasized that they will use all legal means available to ensure the safety of the communities.
According to Stephan, the individuals accused of the crimes were residents of either Riverside or Los Angeles County and had traveled to San Diego to carry out their unlawful activities.
According to Stephan, burglary crews usually consist of a minimum of three individuals who wear masks and gloves, which makes it challenging to recognize them.
According to officials, the homeowner was present in at least three of the cases, and in some instances, there was even a baby present in the home.
The charges against each defendant include three to 24 counts of first-degree residential burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. In the event of a conviction on all counts, the defendants could be sentenced to eight to 35 years or even life imprisonment.
