As the investigation unfolded, deputies learned that a suspected vehicle, a white Ford Excursion, with Marine Corps stickers on the back window, might belong to the suspects. Surveillance video captured images of the vehicle on Christmas Day entering the storage facility.
As deputies processed the storage unit, a second victim approached the deputies and reported that someone broke into his storage unit. Thieves took items valuing $5,000 from the storage facility.
A vehicle similar to the one seen in the surveillance footage was located at a nearby Armona residence. When deputies investigated, they identified Halloween masks and a broken lock similar to one of the locks removed from the storage units.
Deputies contacted two subjects at the residence, and during their investigation discovered most of the stolen property taken from the storage units.
Victims identified the property as theirs. Several items had distinguishing characteristics making identification easy. Deputies arrested a pair of suspects – Pablo Chavez and Robert Herrera – and charged them with felony counts of burglary and possession of the stolen property.
The property, valued at $7,500, was returned to the victims. Suspects Chavez and Herrera are being held in the Kings County Jail with a bail of $25,000 each.
