Caught on Tape: Man steals suitcase from hotel guests in Desert Hot Springs

A Desert Hot Springs Hotel owner says putting in a professional grade security system was the best investment she has made. After have several car break-ins at the Desert Hot Springs Inn, Manager Paula Terifaj, says she made the costly investment of putting in the cameras. On Monday, she found out that investment paid off.

Terifaj says that she posted video of a theft outside her hotel on Monday and police have since caught the suspect.

In the video posted you see a man in a truck pull up outside the Inn located on the 67-000 block of Hacienda Avenue in Desert Hot Springs, around 9:40 a.m. The man walks up to a car, where a visitor checking out, left a suitcase on the road near their parked car. The man then takes the suitcase, and drives off.

The story does not end there says the Manager. She then posted the video on Social Media, and after several calls, the man who stole the suitcase was caught, according to Terifaj.

Desert Hot Springs Police confirmed the burglary and say the tip lead them to a home on Cactus Drive where they arrested 46-year old Danny Cater. Cater admitted to stealing the suitcase, and officers located it on the back patio of the home.

Terifaj says the guest was part of a large family group visiting from Northern California. She plans on mailing the suitcase back to them as soon as it is returned to her from Desert Hot Springs Police.