Alcohol theft leads to stolen car, loaded gun recovered
The vehicle that was used in the theft of alcohol from CVS had been reported stolen from LA. Robert Carter photo
HEMET – A theft of alcohol from a CVS in Hemet Friday, Aug. 5 led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle, the recovery of a loaded handgun, and the arrest of at least two of five suspects involved in the theft. The CVS where the theft occurred is located at 3055 W. Florida Ave Avenue.
Employees from the business called 911 shortly before 12:50 p.m. to report the theft after the subjects allegedly fled from the business after stealing alcohol.
The caller told Hemet Police dispatchers the subjects fled in a lime green 2011 Ford Fiesta and provided dispatchers with the vehicle’s description and license plate number.
A record check showed the vehicle had been reported as stolen from the Los Angeles area.
Riverside Sheriffs “Star 9” located the stolen vehicle at the Diamond Inn in Hemet. Robert Carter photo
Officers searching for the stolen vehicle requested assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff’s aviation unit.
While searching the area from overhead, the aviation crew located the stolen car parked at the Diamond Inn, located at 2700 W Florida Ave in Hemet.
Hemet Police officers converged on the motel and surrounded the building. After determining which room the subjects were staying in, officers made entry into the motel room and detained five subjects.
After detaining the subjects, officers conducted a search of the room where the three men had been staying. They located and recovered a 9mm handgun and the merchandise the men had stolen from CVS, including bottles of Canadian Whiskey, pink lemonade, UV Vodka and Blue Vodka.
Officers arrested all at least two of the five men just after 1 p.m. and transported them to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility.
Hemet Police officers disovered a loaded handgun and recovered the stolen alcohol. Robert Carter photo
A jail record search revealed two of the men were booked for a variety of felony and misdemeanor charges.
Heber Enrique Torres, 37 – who was wanted for an out of county warrant and was on Post Release Community Supervision – was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, receiving known stolen property, petty theft, and revocation of his PRCS probation.
He is being held without bail and is scheduled to be seen at an unspecified court Aug 9.
Orlando Hernandez, 30, – who was wanted for an out of county warrant and was also determined to be on Post Release Community Supervision – was booked for revocation of his PRCS probation.
Numerous Hemet PD officers converged on the Diamond Inn to take the five suspects into custody. Robert Carter photo
He is being held without bail and is court date has not yet been set.
No information was readily available regarding the other three subjects who were detained.
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