RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENTSheriff Chad Bianco |
Press Release: | Vehicle Theft / Kidnapping
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Station Area: | San Jacinto |
Written Date: | July 23, 2020 | Time: | 2:40 PM |
Incident Date: | July 23, 2020 | Time: | 12:12 PM |
Incident Location: | San Jacinto Avenue and 7th Street, San Jacinto
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Reporting Officer: | Sergeant Radek Horkel
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File Number(s): | I202050043
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Details:
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Christina De La Cruz |
On Thursday, July 23, 2020, about 12:12 PM, deputies assigned to the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station responded to the Fastrip Convenience Store at the corner of San Jacinto Avenue and 7th Street, reference a vehicle theft and a child kidnapping. The owner of the vehicle left her five-year-old child unattended in the rear seat with the engine on while she went inside the store to purchase items. While in the store, a female suspect entered the victim’s vehicle and drove away. The vehicle fled west on 7th Street, but not before the child was able to escape from the vehicle. The child was uninjured during his escape. Deputies saturated the area and located the stolen vehicle traveling on Pico Avenue and 5th Street. A traffic enforcement stop was conducted, and the vehicle yielded in the 700 block of South San Jacinto Avenue. The female driver of the stolen vehicle was identified as Christina De La Cruz, a 34-year-old resident of San Jacinto. De La Cruz was arrested for vehicle theft and kidnapping and booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center.
The San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station would like to remind the citizens of the community to make sure their vehicle windows are up, the car is locked, key is out of the ignition with the engine off whenever they are away from the vehicle. Additionally, Children should never be left unattended in a car, running or not. During the sweltering heat of summer, temperatures in a car can reach up to 150 degrees, an incredibly dangerous environment for anyone, but especially for children.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Deputy Page Broughton at (951) 654-2702.