HEMET: Eagle-eyed citizen thwarts school burglary after calling 911

HEMET – A sharp-eyed citizen stopped a potential crime in progress today when he spotted three juveniles attempting to break into the Hemet Adult School’s Alessandro Complex and called 911 to report the incident. The three juveniles were quickly detained after fleeing from the school, which is located at 831 E. Devonshire Avenue, north of E. Latham Avenue and south of E. Date Street, in Hemet.

Several officers responded to the reported burglary after a citizen called 911 to report suspicious activity. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo

The investigation began at 2:18 p.m., when the citizen witnessed three black, male juveniles trying to pry open a door to the school’s gymnasium. The citizen immediately called 911 to report what they were observing.

The caller told dispatchers he watched the juveniles using an unknown type tool to pry open the door to the gym. The caller also told dispatchers that he believed the three had successfully pried open the door and entered the locked building.

While officers were responding to the area, the witness provided dispatchers with a detailed and accurate description of the three alleged suspects as well as what the trio were wearing.

The first officer arrived at the school less than one minute after the incident was reported and he advised he could see three juveniles fleeing through the school grounds. The officer  then reported seeing them jump over a fence heading eastbound away from the school.

While officers were converging on the scene, another officer spotted the three juveniles walking in an alley near the 900 block of Devonshire Avenue. The officer detained the trio for further investigation.

Officers determined all three juveniles were 17 years old and one of the three was just days away from their 18th birthday. While officers were interviewing the juveniles, other officers at the school quickly determined that the juveniles had been unsuccessful in gaining entry to the gym, after they were scared off by the person who called 911.

After officers gathered the juveniles information, they were released, pending further investigation.

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Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.