Two Caught in Murrieta on Suspicion of Possessing Stolen GPS Unit, Other Items

Two were behind bars Monday after Murrieta police say they were caught with items recently reported stolen from vehicles within Murrieta.

The activities of Joseph Roybal, 20, and a 17-year-old male came to the police's attention at about 3:30 a.m. Monday when a resident reported two men were tampering with a storage-room lock in the Old School House residential complex off Murrieta Hot Springs Road, said Murrieta Police Sgt. Steve Dyer in a news release.

Officers responded to the storage unit and detained the two males inside the unit, Dyer said. Next to the suspects were a backpack and other loose electronic items including a GPS unit, he said.

"During further investigation with the GPS unit, officers learned the males had possibly been in the Greer Ranch neighborhood, an area recently targeted with vehicle burglaries," Dyer said.

An officer contacted a Greer Ranch resident who lives in the area of 35000 Stock Street and learned his vehicle had been broken into overnight with several items stolen, Dyer said. The resident confirmed with officers that the property found near the suspects belonged to him.

The suspects were then arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property, which is a felony. Roybal was booked into Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta and the 17-year-old, whose name was withheld because he is a minor, was booked at juvenile hall.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation can call the 0n-duty watch commander at 951-696-3615 or provide information anonymously through “We Tip” at 1-800-78-CRIME.