Three Chilean nationals arrested for jewelry store theft on Palm Desert’s El Paseo

Three people from Chile were arrested after a theft at a jewelry store in the El Paseo area of Palm Desert.

The theft was reported at around 1:30 p.m. on the 73000 block of El Paseo in Palm Desert.

Staff told police that the thieves stole high-valued pieces of jewelry and fled the location.

"The reporting party stated one male and two females ran out of the business with unpaid merchandise and fled in a black vehicle," reads an email from a spokesperson with the Sheriff's Office.

Riverside County Sheriff's deputies spotted the suspect vehicle and apprehended the three suspects a short while later near the area of Monterey and Highway 111.

The suspects, identified as a 42-year-old man, a 23-year-old woman, and a 33-year-old woman were arrested and booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

Store owner, Raju Mehta says Sheriff's deputies quick response allowed him to open up his store Monday afternoon after the grand theft occurred.

News Channel 3 has reported similar incidents off the El Paseo strip within the past six months, including two break ins at the Gucci store and a smash-and-grab robbery at Brandon Boswell Diamonds.