TEMECULA – A 29-year-old man suspected of being involved in several jewelry thefts across the nation, including one in Temecula, was behind bars today.
Deputies responded to the Promenade Temecula mall around 10:13 a.m. on Aug. 28 to a report regarding a grand theft at a jewelry store, according to Riverside County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Josh Hephner.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect entered the store and began inquiring about a high-priced piece of jewelry, Hephner said.
An employee handed the item to the suspect moments before he fled from the store without paying in a white colored sedan. Deputies assigned to the Southwest Station Robbery/Burglary Suppression Team followed several investigative leads and identified Florida resident Jason Warren as a person of interest.
Warren was located Friday in the 300 block of Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon and arrested and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of grand theft and outstanding warrants, Hephner said.
Further investigation led deputies to discover a significant amount of currency and jewelry inside Warren’s vehicle. Deputies learned Warren was involved in several other jewelry thefts across the nation totaling approximately $250,000 in loss and had warrants for his arrest.
Deputies said they believe Warren is responsible for other related crimes throughout Southern California.
Anyone with information regarding the theft was urged to call Southwest Station RBST Deputy A. Valadez at 951-696-3032.
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