A swift crackdown by sheriff's deputies has landed a Palm Desert man behind bars, accused of lifting a motorcycle and a firearm from a local business. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, eagle-eyed deputies responded to a burglary report on May 9, 2024, at a commercial property situated in the 74000 block of Highway 111. An investigation was initiated after the victim's unsettling discovery that not only had a motorcycle vanished into the night but so had a firearm, adding a menacing edge to the theft.
The next day, the wheels of justice turned quickly and the purloined motorcycle was spotted in the 45000 block of Panorama Dr. The Palm Desert Burglar Suppression Unit, with support from several special enforcement teams, executed a search that led to the recovery of the stolen items. John Schiavone, 40, of Palm Desert, was arrested on burglary charges, the deputies' persistence paying off in his apprehension.
But the long arm of the law reached further. During the operation at the residence, the Indian Wells Special Enforcement Team nabbed Sjannine Vanzant, a 38-year-old from Palm Desert. Vanzant, who had been sought after for her alleged involvement in multiple theft and credit card fraud incidents across Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, and Indian Wells, was also booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office put out a call for anyone holding information about these incidents to step forward, as they continue to piece together the shards of these crimes. Sjannine Vanzant and John Schiavone are currently cooling their heels at the county's detention center, waiting for justice to run its course. Interested parties with tips are encouraged to dial Deputy Sanchez of the Palm Desert Station at (760) 836-1600. Details of the case have been laid out in a statement from the sheriff's department, available on their official website.
