Riverside County

Quick-Thinking Neighbor Grabs Cellphone Video After Car Break-In

A quick-thinking neighbor caught a man breaking into cars along his Riverside County street, and was able to give investigators a good look at the suspect.

It happened in broadlight on Cherry Point Lane in Murrieta, when Jayson Carpenter happened to step outside of his house and hear glass shattering.

"I started filming him and he was watching me, and he asked me if I wanted to get shot," Carpenter said. "I'd be lying if I said if I wasn't scared."

Despite being threatened, Carpenter started chasing the man, who was carrying a box and a cane.

"I chase him about five or six houses down until he threw down the box that he had and came after me with a screwdriver. He said he was going to stab me," Carpenter said.

So Carpenter backed off, and called 911.

"I was having to make up my mind, you know, if this guy takes one more step I'm going to have to defend myself."

Local

Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.

Everything you need to know about the Dodgers Opening Week at Chavez Ravine

California's commercial Dungeness crab season will end April 8 to protect whales

Fearing for his life, Carpenter kept his distance as the suspect picked up the box and jumped into an older model silver Toyota Corolla, driven by another man.

He saw someone else in the back seat.

"I even noticed a kid in the back about 5 years old in the car seat," Carpenter said.

The owner of the car is disabled and needs a cane to help her walk. In the video you can see the thief carrying that cane, along with TV equipment that was inside a box.

John Smeby is the brother-in-law of the car’s owner, and he said the suspect also stole items from his wife’s car, and he’s worried he'll come back for more.

"He may try to open up doors, see if they're unlocked and walk into someone's home. I think that this man is dangerous, that he would do this,” Smeby said.

Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies used Carpenter’s video to freeze-frame a picture and tweet it out, hoping someone will recognize the thief.

"I would just hate to think that people would just stand around and do nothing if they were watching is happening to my car," Carpenter said.

Contact Us