Social media letter to Murrieta burglar who dropped cell phone leaves area residents laughing

MURRIETA, Calif. — In a tongue-in-cheek social media release, Murrieta Police Department wrote an open letter to the suspect of a vehicle burglary who accidently dropped her cell phone inside a vehicle she is suspected of burglarizing. 

The letter, which was addressed to “Cristina”, humorously asked, “How weird is that? I mean, how on Earth would your phone get into someone else’s recently burglarized car?”, and encouraged the woman to turn herself in. However, in a telephone interview today, Murrieta Police Lieutenant Durrant told RCNS the suspect had not yet turned herself in or been located and is still outstanding.

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In their social media post, officials wrote, “Dear Cristina,  We thought you’d like to know that we have your phone here at the PD.”

The post went on to explain that while assessing what had been stolen from her vehicle, the victim located the alleged suspect’s cell phone inside their burglarized vehicle; which she turned over to the investigating officer.

“How weird is that?,” the letter continued. “I mean, how on Earth would your phone get into someone else’s recently burglarized car?”

“Well, we do know that you were parked right next to the car that was burglarized, but I’m sure that’s just a crazy coincidence,” the post, which had been shared and commented on thousands of times, added.

Durrant today confirmed the case is being investigated by Officer Alexander, who has been trying to get in touch with the woman for the last week and has attempted to contact her at her residence, without success.

“Officer Alexander even went to your house, but you weren’t there,” the post went on to explain. “Some of your friends said that they would get in touch with you and let you know, but still nothing.”

“We’re sure that you want your phone back and we just wanted you to know that your phone is here, and when you come to pick it up we can help you take care of that felony warrant too,” the post, which included the department’s address and phone number “in case you forgot how to reach us,” added.

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Durrant, who declined to provide the suspect’s full name due to concerns of retaliation against her, “such as dox’ing,” said the case remains open and Officer Alexander’s investigation is continuing.

If you have information regarding this investigation or know “Cristina’s” whereabouts, contact the Murrieta Police Department at (951) 304-2677. Callers can remain anonymous.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

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 30 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 18 grandchildren.