A suspect has been nabbed following a brazen theft in a blackout-stricken San Bernardino community. A Moreno Valley man, identified as 39-year-old Nathan Hohnstein, is accused of stealing a generator from a residence on Rosena Ranch Rd., leaving the scene in a blue GMC Yukon, the SBSD Fontana Sheriff's Department reported.
The pilfered generator was a lifeline for a homeowner grappling with a power outage caused by a severe windstorm, and during the theft, a water line was damaged, incurring over $800 in repairs, officials said, "On January 11, 2025, at approximately 7:11 a.m., a generator was stolen from a the exterior of a residence," as stated by the SBSD Fontana Sheriff's Department. The suspect's flight did not last long as detectives traced the vehicle and, by January 13, Hohnstein was under arrest following a traffic stop by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Moreno Valley Station.
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Fontana Station detectives were hot on the suspect's trail and managed to piece together enough evidence to link him to the generator theft, it became apparent that Hohnstein was already on the hook with the law, having been previously released on "Own Recognizance" for multiple felonies out of Riverside County. Post arrest, Hohnstein faced a barrage of new felony charges, and thanks to a bail enhancement, sits behind bars without bail at the West Valley Detention Center.
The Fontana Sheriff's detectives believe there could be more victims out there and are featuring photos of both Hohnstein and the suspect vehicle to jog public memory. Anyone with any relevant information is urged to get in touch by calling 909-356-6767, "Fontana Sheriff's detectives are releasing photos of Hohnstein and the suspect vehicle as there may be additional victims," the department urged in their statement.
