Pair Accused of Stuffing Electronics in Backpacks at Murrieta Walmart

Two men suspected of stealing about $800 worth of electronics early Friday from Walmart in Murrieta were quickly apprehended, a police sergeant said.

At 5:52 a.m. Friday, officers responded to Walmart, 41200 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, when an assistant manager reported he had watched the alleged burglary take place via surveillance cameras, according to Murrieta police Sgt. Jay Froboese.

“He picked up on this on security cameras...he caught them at 5:52 a.m. as they were walking out the door,” Froboese said.

The suspects allegedly ran from arriving officers, resulting in a short foot pursuit across Madison Avenue.

Officers spotted the suspects near Big Lots before they allegedly ran across Madison to Mega Tom’s Burgers, where they were taken into custody, the sergeant said.

The suspects were identified as Jacob Jobgen, 18, of Canyon Lake and Rafael Hernandez, 21, of Wildomar.

Sheriff’s records showed they were booked at Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree burglary and resisting arrest. Both remained behind bars as of Friday afternoon and were tentatively due in court Tuesday.

Jobgen was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail because also allegedly violated his probation.

Hernandez was additionally jailed on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and needed to post $5,000 bond in order to be released.

Froboese said that although officers respond to reports of shoplifting from Walmart on almost a daily basis, suspects should think twice.

“The entire store is covered by surveillance 24 hours a day,” Froboese said. “The provide excellent, high-quality surveillance so it is extremely unwise to commit burglary there.”