Three teenagers arrested in string of Cathedral City burglaries

Liz Salow says her street “has gone through changes that’s for sure. It’s not for the better.” She’s talking about Hermosillo Road in Cathedral City after the latest burglary on the 68-700 block in early September. Following up on the crime, police served two search warrants in the city and one in Beaumont on Thursday. Police arrested two teens and Christopher Martinez, 18, of Cathedral City.

“We’ve been robbed before. It’s a horrible feeling. It doesn’t go away,” said Salow.

Officers say several neighbors reported seeing a group of unfamiliar young men trespassing into other neighbors’ backyards. It was their photos and video of the teenagers that helped lead police to the three suspects.

“I would hope neighbors would do the same thing for me. If somebody’s in your stuff, you’ve got to do the right thing. It’s not that hard to do,” Salow said.

It may not have been the first time the suspects struck in the neighborhood. During the search police discovered stolen property at the suspect’s homes, including five unregistered guns and other evidence linking them to other recent auto and residential burglaries in Cathedral City.

Salow said she’s grateful that arrests have been made, but she still worries for the area she’s lived in for the past 20 years.

“It doesn’t surprise me, but it’s sad. I don’t think this is the only neighborhood feeling the decay of Cathedral City,” she said.

The teens were charged with burglary and Martinez was charged with both burglary and possession of stolen property.