Authorities have arrested six suspects involved in a series of train burglaries across Riverside County that led to nearly $200,000 worth of stolen merchandise. The thefts targeted cargo trains, with suspects removing valuable goods before fleeing the scene.
The investigation, which began on August 2, focused on burglaries near Hammond Road and 68th Avenue in Mecca, where stolen items were found but the perpetrators had already escaped. Deputies worked diligently to identify the locations where the stolen items were stored.
The suspects, identified as Renato Compean Briones, 29, Carla Virginia Urias Herrera, 39, Jesus Ivan Castillo Ruiz, 28, Juan Pablo Ortega Hernandez, 38, Deette Nadine Amezquita Luna, 36, and Bernardo Acosta, 39, were tracked down after months of investigation.
On November 6, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a home and storage unit in Indio, where over $80,000 worth of stolen goods were recovered. Two suspects, Briones and Herrera, were arrested at the scene.
Investigators also found $12,000 in stolen merchandise at a residence in Thermal, leading to the arrest of Castillo Ruiz. By November 21, law enforcement seized $76,000 worth of stolen goods from a property in Mecca and a storage unit in Coachella, where Hernandez and Luna were arrested.
On December 4, another search warrant in Coachella resulted in the discovery of over $26,000 worth of stolen goods, and Acosta was arrested on December 10.
The group now faces a range of charges, including burglary, possession of stolen property, grand theft, and conspiracy. Approximately $194,000 worth of stolen items has been recovered.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Thermal Sheriff’s Station at 760-863-8990.