Trio Cuffed After Alleged Murrieta Vehicle Break-In

MURRIETA, CA – Three individuals, one reportedly suffering from gambling losses, were arrested over the weekend after being stopped by cops in the midst of a vehicular burglary in Murrieta, police said.

The Murrieta Police Department was called Saturday at approximately 1:18 a.m. to the 29000 block of Wrangler Drive after a neighbor was awoken by a car alarm and observed a male running from the area.

Arriving officers located a male matching the suspect's description, later identified as Christopher Gomez, 31 of Hemet, walking on a nearby street, and two black bags on the sidewalk, the agency said.

A police check revealed Gomez had a criminal history that included violations for narcotics, theft, fraud and vehicle theft, as well as being on formal probation for vehicle theft. While the officers were speaking with Gomez, a neighborhood resident told cops that the black bags, located on the sidewalk, belonged to him and were taken from his unlocked car, the department said.

Additional officers stopped a vehicle, reportedly fleeing the area at high speeds, and spoke with the driver, Raylina Ramos, 23 of Perris, and observed a female in the back seat "feigning sleep," police said.

Narcotics paraphernalia was in the car in open view, the department said.

The female in the back seat, later identified as Stephanie Seeley, 23 from Hemet, who "was awoken by the conversation between the officer and Ramos," was on formal probation for grand theft, police said.

Meanwhile, the driver, Ramos, had previous convictions for theft and burglary, police said.

Ramos and Seeley allegedly admitted to police that were in the Murrieta neighborhood with Gomez and were detained by officers at the scene.

Gomez reportedly told police he had lost money gambling and was in Murrieta trying to recoup his losses by checking vehicles with unlocked doors to take whatever property he could find and sell for cash.

Gomez was arrested for suspicion of grand theft and probation violation. Ramos was arrested for the alleged possession of narcotics paraphernalia. Seeley was allegedly found to have narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia hidden on her person and was arrested for the purported narcotics and violation of probation. All three were booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.

"This incident is a perfect example of criminals entering our community with the intent of victimizing residents," the Murrieta PD said. "Those residents that are not vigilant about securing their property are frequently the victims of this type of activity. The quick actions of the observant neighbor in this case greatly assisted in the apprehension of these criminals. The Murrieta Police Department would like to take this opportunity to remind the citizens to lock and take all valuables out of your vehicles."

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--Images via MPD