Bermuda Dunes man arrested for alleged vehicle burglary spree

Felony charges were filed Wednesday against an ex-con suspected of committing at least seven vehicle burglaries throughout the Coachella Valley that allegedly netted him more than $30,000 in stolen property.

Christian Slocum, 41, of Bermuda Dunes was arrested Feb. 9 on suspicion of being a felon in possession of ammunition and multiple counts of possession of stolen property and vehicle burglary, said sheriff’s Sgt. Ben Ramirez.

The District’s Attorney’s Office charged Slocum Wednesday with one count each of burglary, receiving stolen property and being a felon in possession of ammunition. He pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to return to court Feb. 27 for a felony settlement conference.

Slocum is being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Slocum’s arrest was the culmination of a sheriff’s investigation into vehicle burglaries perpetrated between November and this month in La Quinta, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and Bermuda Dunes, Ramirez said.

Deputies served a search warrant last week at Slocum’s home, where they found numerous allegedly stolen items, including laptop and tablet computers, GPS navigation systems, cell phones, several sets of golf clubs, jewelry and high-end cameras, the sergeant said.

Ramirez said deputies are still working to determine the owners of the stolen items.

Anyone with information regarding the ongoing investigation was asked to contact Deputy Lindewall at the sheriff’s Thermal station at (760) 863-8348.