Rash Of Temecula Burglaries Blamed On Convicted Felon: Sheriff's Dept.

Temecula CA

16 June, 2022

4:48 PM

Description

TEMECULA, CA — A man suspected in a rash of Temecula burglaries was apprehended but is now free on $200,000 bail, despite his history of stealing, according to court and jail records. On Thursday, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department announced the arrest of Timothy Mark Bethell, 30, of Winchester. The June 9 arrest followed an investigation a day earlier into a commercial burglary and vehicle theft in the 43500 block of Ridge Park Drive. The business had a broken window and electronics stolen, and a company car described as a blue 2018 Hyundai Elantra was missing, according to the department. On June 9, deputies got a break when one of the city's automated license plate readers captured the Elantra at the intersection of Rancho California Road and Jefferson Avenue. A short time later, another license plate reader put the car near the intersection of Rancho California Road and Ynez Road. With the help of the license plate readers, deputies found the unoccupied Elantra behind a business in the 29600 block of Rancho California Road. Law enforcement surveilled the area and two people were eventually detained — one of them being Bethell. According to the sheriff's department, he was the driver of the stolen Elantra. During Bethell's arrest, it was determined he was on probation. In October, Bethell pleaded guilty to seven counts of felony burglary, six counts of felony vandalism, and one count of misdemeanor vandalism. He was granted a 12-month supervised release, according to court records. During Bethell's recent June 9 arrest, deputies found a motel room key on him, and that room was searched, which led to "evidence linking Bethell to the burglary" on Ridge Park Drive, according to the sheriff's department. Deputies also obtained video surveillance showing Bethell smashing a front window at the Ridge Park Drive business, entering the establishment, rummaging through drawers, leaving with electronics, and driving away in the Elantra, the sheriff's department reported. Bethell is also a suspect in other burglaries, including in the 27500 block of Ynez Road and one in the 28700 block of Old Town Front Street where he stole several iPads, according to the sheriff's department. All stolen items were recovered, the agency reported. Bethell is also suspected in a vandalism incident in the 28200 block of Old Town Front Street that caused approximately $2,400 in damage, according to the sheriff's department. Court records show Bethell was formally charged Monday with one felony count each of burglary, taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, and receiving a stolen vehicle. He subsequently pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released from custody Tuesday in lieu of $200,000 bail. He is due in court June 21 for a felony settlement conference, court records show.