Evacuated homes targeted by burglars in Hemet fire, authorities say
Homes in Hemet that were under evacuation orders for the Fairview fire have been targeted by burglars, according to authorities.
On Sunday, three people were arrested on suspicion of burglarizing a home in the area under evacuation orders, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said. The three suspects were all Hemet residents: Deven Hooker, 31; John Blackwood, 42; and Michael Edward Serrano, 50.
They were charged with burglary and looting in an evacuation area. Hooker was separately charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Residents in Oak Glen and Forest Falls had been ordered to evacuate because of threats from mudslides and debris, affecting about 50 homes, authorities said.
They remain in custody at the Smith Correctional Facility near Banning, jail records show.
On Friday, a former California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighter’s house was also targeted.
The ex-firefighter, who asked to be identified only as “Terry,” told KCBS-TV Channel 2 that he and his wife left their home without locking the front door, and Terry said thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry was stolen from them, the station reported.
It was the second robbery this week reported in the area, according to Riverside County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brandi Swan.
The fire grew by 569 acres on Tuesday and containment increased to 25%, according to fire officials.
Swan said Terry told authorities he was approached by a man wearing an orange vest. Terry’s neighbors captured a person wearing an orange vest leaving his house on their home security video about 30 minutes after the couple left. Later, another suspect is also seen in the video, according to the station.
Terry told KCBS that he also received a notification on his own Ring doorbell camera, but he was unable to watch the recording.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
