July 20, 2026 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on July 14, 2026, at 6:06 p.m., deputies assigned to the Lake Mathews Sheriff’s Station responded to the 17000 block of Van Buren Boulevard in the unincorporated area of Riverside County, known as Woodcrest, regarding a theft from a business. Upon arrival, deputies searched the area but were unable to locate the suspects. The Lake Mathews Station Special Enforcement Team responded and assumed the investigation.

During the investigation, deputies obtained a description of the vehicle, and with the assistance of the Lake Elsinore Station Special Enforcement Team, the suspect vehicle was located in the area of Cambern Avenue and Central Avenue in Lake Elsinore. Deputies initiated a vehicle stop, and the two suspects, later identified as Stephen Gaytan, a 39-year-old resident of Perris, and Aleve Fakhoury, a 22-year-old resident of Temecula, were taken into custody without incident.

Deputies determined that the vehicle used to commit the theft had been reported stolen and was later returned to its owner. The items taken during the theft were not located. Gaytan and Fakhoury were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, and conspiracy.

This is an ongoing investigation, and no additional details are available at this time. The Lake Mathews Sheriff’s Station encourages anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact Deputy Casanova with the Lake Mathews Station Special Enforcement Team by calling (951) 272-5600 or Riverside Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776-1099.

Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant Matthew Bolle

File # MA261950059

Source: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office