Neighbors suspicions thwart mini crime spree
Redlands, CA – A report of suspicious activity in a Redlands neighborhood resulted in the arrest of two men after a short crime spree of thefts and at least one residential burglary.
Police received a report shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, of two men driving slowly through the neighborhood of Hibiscus Street near Palm Avenue looking into cars and trying door handles. Responding officers spotted a vehicle and attempted to pull the driver over. After a brief pursuit the vehicle, a Honda Accord, was pulled over at Palm and Cajon Street.
In the car officers found miscellaneous property which investigators later determined had been stolen from several unlocked vehicles in Redlands and Loma Linda. In addition the suspects used a garage door from one unlocked vehicle to open and burglarize a garage in Loma Linda.
Officers identified five victims in Redlands and Loma Linda. Property recovered from at least one additional burglary has not yet been identified.
Arrested were Ulisses Celis Arce, 20, of San Bernardino and Phillip Aaron Moreno, 20, of Redlands. They were transported to Central Detention Center in San Bernardino.
Investigators say the thefts started in Loma Linda at about 4 a.m. Thursday. They credit an alert neighbor’s report of suspicious activity for bringing the two-hour crime spree to an end.
Police encourage Redlands residents to “See Something, Say Something,” reporting any suspicious activity by calling 911.
Anyone with additional information on Thursday’s thefts is asked to contact Detective Kelvin Bryant at (909) 798-7659 or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681. Anonymous tips can be provided by texting 274637 using the keyword
“REDTIP.”