Murrieta woman arrested after 2 month investigation into Temecula crimes
Temecula PD SET members arrested Brittany Ball after a two month-long investigation into reports of mail theft and fraud.
TEMECULA – Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Temecula Police Station arrested a Murrieta resident after serving a search warrant at her residence. The search warrant was served April 26, in the 31000 Block of Gabriel Metsu Street, north of Thompson Road, according to a sheriff official. The area is located in an unincorporated area of Murrieta, about 2000 feet outside City of Murrieta city limits.
The search warrant and subsequent arrest followed a two month investigation into reported mail theft and fraud-related incidents occurring throughout the City of Temecula.
During the service of the search warrant, SET deputies located Brittany Ball, 26, of Murrieta, driving away from the location. Deputies stopped Ball and determined she was driving a stolen vehicle. Ball was detained for being in possession of the stolen vehicle, while SET members served the search warrant at her residence.
At the conclusion of the warrant service, “Ball was arrested for multiple charges including Credit Card Fraud, Possession of Fictitious Checks, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Possession of Methamphetamine for sale, “Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Geoffrey Green wrote in a press release about the investigation and arrest.
The investigation into Ball’s alleged criminal activities began in March and continued into April, when deputies assigned to the Temecula Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team were assigned to conduct multiple follow-up investigations regarding numerous different reports of mail theft and fraud cases in the City of Temecula.
After developing leads and gathering evidence and information, SET deputies authored a search warrant for Ball’s residence.
After detaining Ball in the stolen vehicle, SET members served the search warrant at the Ball’s residence on Gabriel Metsu Street. During the service of the warrant, deputies located “an extensive amount of stolen mail, credit cards, fictitious checks, items used in fraud, and methamphetamine,” according to Green.
Deputies are still contacting multiple victims of Ball’s alleged crimes as the investigation unfolds.
Based on their investigation and evidence recovered at Ball’s residence, deputies arrested Ball for numerous charges. She was booked into the Southwest Detention Center.
A jail records search revealed after Ball was booked into jail at the Southwest Detention Center. She was later transferred to Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. She was booked for suspicion of forgery and possession of fake ID’s, possession of fictitious checks, embezzlement, false impersonation and possession of narcotics with intent to distribute them.
She is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail. She was scheduled to be arraigned at the Southwest Justice Center this morning at 8 a.m.
After the arrest, Green discussed the incident, as well as mail theft and personal protection in general, writing, “We would like to encourage residents and business owners to partner with the Department to help prevent crimes of theft by reducing the opportunity.”
Green continued, “There are certain practices and behaviors that are deterrents to many crimes of opportunity. Please remember to securely lock doors and windows to homes and vehicles to prevent easy access by unauthorized persons.”
Green suggested citizens to “consider installing motion-detector lighting systems for the exterior of homes and businesses.”
“Do not leave keys, purses, wallets, or other valuables exposed in unoccupied or parked vehicles. Handle your personal and financial information and/or documents with security in mind,” Green advised. Also, “Report suspicious persons and vehicles you observe in your neighborhood (and) report any crimes to the police department as soon as you reasonably can.”
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Officer Punzalan at the Temecula Police Department (951) 696-3000. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
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