Two men were nabbed by the law in Chino Hills after they allegedly played a wicked game of distraction and theft on an unsuspecting elderly shopper. The Chino Hills Multiple Enforcement Team (MET) deputies were conducting a sting operation on Thursday at Trader Joe’s on Peyton Drive due to a recent string of thefts, according to a report by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department.
In what appears to have been a planned heist, the two suspects were caught in the act of targeting the senior citizen. Juan Andres Garcia Rodriguez, 39, of Concord, and Pablo Navarro Jimenez, 54, of Van Nuys, are accused of orchestrating a devious plot: one to divert the victim while the other made off with the goods. This attempt to cleverly swindle an elderly woman was cut short when the deputies, already on the lookout, snapped into action and promptly arrested the duo as they tried to escape - goods in tow.
The vigilant MET deputies wasted no time as they swooped in to apprehend the suspects right outside the very store they had exploited. The quick response of law enforcement brought a swift end to an incident that could have distressingly stripped the elderly shopper of her belongings. Rodriguez and Jimenez have been booked at the West Valley Detention Center on charges of grand theft person and conspiracy, the sheriff's department stated in a press release.
While the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone who might hold pieces of this puzzle to step forward with information. Those willing to share what they know can contact the Chino Hills Police Department directly, or anonymously tip-off through the We-Tip Hotline. The case number to reference is 222400453, as announced by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department.
