Pair who burglarized vehicle, used stolen CC’s sought

January 21, 2019 Trevor Montgomery

MT. SHASTA — Authorities are investigating a vehicle burglary that happened outside a popular Mt. Shasta restaurant last night, Sunday, Jan. 20.

Officials are now asking for the public’s help identifying a woman captured on surveillance video using credit cards stolen from the vehicle to purchase “a large amount of alcohol” from a Weed liquor store after the burglary. A second suspect was also captured on video surveillance during the initial burglary.

LEADING THE NORCAL HEADLINES:
Redding man in wheelchair hit by car, critically injured
Car plummets 50 ft off 299E into Cedar Creek
Redding PD’s NPU makes 1,500th arrest

Mt. Shasta Police Department was first alerted to the vehicle burglary around 7:30 p.m., when a victim called to report her vehicle was broken into while parked behind Black Bear Diner, at 401 W. Lake St.

Responding officers found the passenger side window of the victim’s vehicle had been smashed and broken shards of the shattered window lay spread across the vehicle’s seats and interior. The victim reported that “multiple items of value were taken, including a purse, credits cards, and cash,” Mt. Shasta PD said in a social media appeal for information about the alleged suspects.

Mt. Shasta PD is asking for help identifying this woman they believe broke into a vehicle parked behind Black Bear Diner. Officials allege she then traveled about 10 miles to Weed, where she bought a “large amount of alcohol.” She was one of two captured on surveillance footage.

A short time after the burglary, a credit card stolen from the victim’s vehicle “was used to purchase a large amount of alcohol” nearly 10 miles away, at Layton’s Liquors in Weed.

“Unfortunately for them, that business has surveillance cameras,” said MSPD. Surveillance footage of the alleged incident also showed the two suspects arriving and leaving in a dark-colored, newer model SUV.

During their investigation, officers located and recovered some of the victim’s stolen property in a dumpster outside the liquor store. The recovered items were processed for potential evidence such as fingerprints, and later returned to the victim.

MSPD used the opportunity to remind area residents and visitors to lock their vehicle doors when they are left unattended. Officials also advised it is best to either remove or at least hide any valuables from plain sight whenever possible.

Anyone with information about this investigation or who recognizes either of the two pictured suspects is encouraged to contact Mt. Shasta PD at (530) 926-7540. Callers can remain anonymous.

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta 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, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.