August 10, 2023 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that beginning in May 2023, several large warehouse businesses in the 13000 block of Estelle Street in the unincorporated area of Home Gardens were victims of thefts. The Lake Mathews Station Special Enforcement Team assumed the investigation. The utilization of several investigative techniques led to the identification of two suspects: Joseph Garcia, a 26-year-old resident of Home Gardens and Christian Munoz, a 31-year-old resident of Moreno Valley.

The investigation led to three addresses linked to the suspects, two in the community of Home Gardens and one in the city of Moreno Valley. Simultaneous search warrants were served at the residences with assistance from the Riverside Sheriff's Office Special Enforcement Bureau, Lake Mathews Station Investigations, Jurupa Valley Special Enforcement Team, Moreno Valley Special Enforcement Team, Riverside Auto Interdiction Detail (R.A.I.D.), and the Corona Police Department. Stolen property from the thefts were located at a residence in the 13000 block of Magnolia Avenue in Home Gardens and 12500 block of Softwind Drive in Moreno Valley. Two additional stolen vehicles were located at the Moreno Valley address.

Joseph Garcia and Christian Munoz were arrested and charged with multiple counts of burglary. Munoz had an additional charge of vehicle theft. As a result of the operation, eight additional people were arrested for various outstanding warrants. All were later booked into a Riverside County jail.

Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Mark Buelna

File # Multiple

Anyone with information on these cases is encouraged to call Deputy Reinsberg at the Lake Mathews Station by calling 951-272-5600.

Source: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office