2 Lake Elsinore Teens Caught Burglarizing Local Resident, Police Say

A Lake Elsinore resident told police he arrived home Wednesday to find two teenaged burglars inside his residence holding a bag full of his property.

Now those teens are behind bars.

The alleged burglary was reported to the Lake Elsinore Police Department around 11:30 a.m. in the 15100 block of Etienne Street.

The victim told police dispatchers the teenaged males fled his home and jumped his backyard fence after he confronted them, explained Sgt. Patrick J. Chavez of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

“Officers responded to the area quickly and established a perimeter around the neighborhood with the assistance of the Riverside County Sheriff's helicopter,” the sergeant said.

An 18-year-old suspect identified as Geron Smithson of Lake Elsinore was found in the area of Teakwood and Terra Cotta; a 16-year-old suspect, also of Lake Elsinore, was found on Lincoln Street and Via Cordova, Chavez said.

Both suspects were transported to the Lake Elsinore Police Department and Smithson was later transported to the Southwest Detention Center; the juvenile suspect was transported to Southwest Juvenile Hall, Chavez said. Both teens were booked on suspicion of burglary.

Anyone with further information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Lake Elsinore Police Department at (951) 245-3300 or after hours and on weekends at (951) 776-1099.