Burglary Arrest Leads to Narcotics and Firearms Seizure
July 17, 2025 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at about 7:00 a.m., deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station responded to the 44500 block of Portola Avenue in Palm Desert regarding a residential burglary. The victim reported that an unknown male had knocked on her door and then entered the residence before fleeing the location. Deputies canvassed the area and located the suspect, who was later identified as Ryan Wood, a 52-year-old resident of Palm Desert.
Due to several similar incidents being reported to law enforcement in the surrounding area, the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station Robbery and Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) responded and assumed the investigation. During the investigation, it was discovered that Wood was responsible for additional residential "cat" burglaries that occurred while the residents were present.
Around 7:00 p.m., RBST, with the assistance of the City of Palm Desert Business District Team, served a search warrant at Woods' residence within the City of Palm Desert. During the service of the search warrant, several items consistent with narcotic sales, to include suspected cocaine, several hundred vials of growth hormone, and two unregistered firearms were located. Wood was arrested and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center for burglary, firearm, and narcotics-related charges.
Cat burglaries garner a heightened level of concern from the law enforcement community due to the elevated risk to victims. The potential for a dangerous encounter between the homeowner/victim and the suspect is significantly higher in these types of crimes. The Riverside County Sheriff's Office would like to remind you to lock your doors and windows whenever practical, even when you are at home, to help keep you and your family safe.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Sanchez of the Palm Desert Station at (760) 836-1600.
Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant James Mills
File # T251960014, Numerous others
Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
