Two Men Arrested For Looting Home In Cathedral City

CATHEDRAL CITY –Wednesday morning, Cathedral City Police arrested Carlos Martinez, 18,and Edgar Martinez, 21, of Bloomingtonon suspicion of stealing appliances out of a vacant home on the 67600 block of Rio Vista.

Witnesses tipped off police about what was going on. Police say they found a brand new microwave in the suspects’ pick-up truck and that the men were working for an out of town company that cleans up foreclosed homes.

The brothers are now charged with stealing property from the very home they were supposed to be taking care of.

Police aren’t saying which company they worked for.

“You’ve got a lot of vacant homes. Short sales, foreclosures.. It’s a long process. Unfortunately, things like this are going to happen,” says realtor Michael Schwartz with Coldwell Banker.

He says, with so many bank-owned properties on the market, potential buyers need to be vigilant.

“That’s why it’s very important to do a final walk-through. You have to see that the property is in the same condition. Something could’ve happened the bank is not aware of,” said Schwartz. “If the listing agent is not following the property like they should, it’s buyer beware.”