Burglary suspect identified as police search for one more
Cielo Vista Elementary School in Palm Springs was placed on precautionary lockdown as PSPD officers searched the area for a suspected burglar on Monday morning.
Officials with the Palm Springs Police Department said two suspects were seen running from a home on the 3900 block of Calle San Antonio when officers arrived to the reported burglary at about 10:20 a.m.
A 26-year-old Cathedral City woman, Samantha Pozuelos, was taken into custody, but her alleged accomplice was still at large as of 5:30 p.m., Sgt. William Hutchinson said. Pozeulos was booked on suspicion of residential burglary at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.
She’s due in court at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on Wednesday, April 20.
As officers searched the area for the male suspect, nearby Cielo Vista
Elementary School was placed on lockdown as a precaution, Sgt. Hutchinson said.
He was described as an Hispanic man in his early 30s, wearing a black headband, black shirt and blue jeans. Police advised that anyone who sees the suspect not approach him and immediately call 911.
Anyone with information was asked to call the Palm Springs Police Department at (760) 327-1441, or anonymously give a tip to Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-7867.
KESQ and CBS Local 2 will provide updates when we hear back from police.
The burglary victim contacted us Tuesday morning and said this was the fourth time his house has been broken into in the past three years. He believes the burglars are the same ones who ransacked his home on Friday; just three days before the most recent break-in.
The house alarm was turned off that day due to some remodeling, the homeowner said.
The victim said he and his husband were worried the burglars would return again because a lot of things were left in a pile in the living room after Friday’s incident. He also said his car was taken, but was later found undamaged.
According to the victim, Mondays burglary suspects broke through a separated laundry room, climbed into the attic and dropped into the house through a 12 X 12 air conditioning vent. He said the alarm was turned on this time and scared the burglars away. His neighbor saw the two suspects running from the home, so police were able to get a description of the burglars.
The Palm Springs Police Department hasn’t confirmed these details with us yet, as they continue to search for the man who is still on the run.
Suspects running from authorities in the area of elementary schools have become a common theme lately. Just last week, a man running from a sheriff’s deputy ended up in a classroom at Valley View Elementary School in Coachella.
Nothing bad came from the incident, fortunately. The man left the classroom and deputies arrested him on the school’s campus.
