Full Notification

DATE/TIME: Monday, September 23, 2019 9:52 am

INCIDENT: Vehicle Burglary

LOCATION: 18000 Nakash Road, Apple Valley

SUSPECT: Arthur Varela, a 43-year-old resident of West Covina

VICTIM: 54-year-old female resident of Apple Valley

SUMMARY:
On Monday, September 23, 2019 at 9:52 am, deputies from the Apple Valley Police Department were dispatched to a vehicle burglary report in the 18000 block of Nakash Road, in the Town of Apple Valley. Upon arrival, it was learned, the suspect later identified as Arthur Varela, forced entry into the victim’s vehicle, taking her purse, wallet and a loaded firearm. Varela immediately began to use the victim’s credit cards at Walmart and a Valero gas station in Victorville. Through video surveillance, Detectives were able to obtain the license plate number of the vehicle Varela was driving. The vehicle was tracked back to an address in West Covina where Varela was later located and found to be in possession of the victim’s stolen property, including the firearm.

Varela was arrested and booked at West Valley Detention Center for being in violation of PC 459, Vehicle Burglary, PC 487(d)(2), Grand Theft of a Firearm, PC 29800 (A)(1), Felon in possession of a firearm, and PC 484G(b), Credit Card Fraud.

This incident ended well but could have ended differently. Please remember, when transporting a firearm or when you hold a Conceal Carry Weapons License, your firearm should be secured as follows per PC 25140:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), a person shall, when leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle, lock the handgun in the vehicle’s trunk, lock the handgun in a locked container and place the container out of plain view, lock the handgun in a locked container that is permanently affixed to the vehicle’s interior and not in plain view, or lock the handgun in a locked toolbox or utility box.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact Detective Ponce or Detective Arreola at the Apple Valley Police Department at (760) 240-7400 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.

Refer: Jackie Alban, Media Relations
Station: Apple Valley Station
Phone No. (760) 240-7400
Case No. 181904543

JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department