Four family members were arrested this week on suspicion of committing at least 10 retail thefts in Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, totaling more than $7,000 worth of losses, authorities said.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department detectives began investigating on April 24, after deputies were called to a business in the 32100 block of Temecula Parkway and learned that multiple suspects had stolen $1,000 worth of merchandise, sheriff’s officials said Friday, May 17.
The location is an area with large shopping centers on both sides of Temecula Parkway.
Authorities identified the suspects and learned they were responsible for other thefts of Southern California retail stores, officials said. The Robbery/Burglary Suppression Team took over the investigation, which led to the arrest of the suspects on May 13 at a home in the 6800 block of Valley Way in Jurupa Valley.
The suspects were identified as Thomas Balandran, 50, Sherri Alvarez, 48 and Brianna Balandran, 19, officials said. They were booked into jail on suspicion of organized retail theft, burglary, conspiracy and grand theft. A 17-year-old boy was also identified as a suspect, but was released to a family member while charges are filed with juvenile probation.
Authorities did not offer specifics into how the suspects were identified, nor did they specify the relationships among the four suspects.
During their arrest, investigators searched the home and found “a large amount of merchandise from the retailers with tags still affixed,” officials said. Narcotics and paraphernalia were also found inside the home, they said.
Detectives learned others had knowingly bought some of the stolen merchandise with the intent to resell it for profit, officials said. Two more search warrants were served in Moreno Valley, where an additional $3,000 worth of stolen merchandise was found.
Officials believe the three adult suspects may have been responsible for additional thefts and were asking anyone with information to contact Deputy Christina Weber of the Southwest Station Robbery/Burglary Suppression Team at 951-696-3133.
Information about the stores affected, their locations and the types of merchandise stolen were not disclosed.
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