Suspect with several stolen trailers arrested in Menifee

By Doug Spoon, Editor

A Lake Elsinore man who is suspected of multiple thefts of box and travel trailers since November was arrested Tuesday at a campground in Menifee, police said.

Jessie Villalpando, 32, was taken into custody near the 30600 block of Briggs Road, site of the Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes campground, according to a Sheriff’s Department news release. At the time of his arrest, Villalpando was in possession of two stolen trailers, including a utility box trailer and a 28-foot travel trailer. Deputies also identified several storage units, where a search warrant was served and additional stolen property was recovered.

Deputies first responded to a business in the 44600 block of Pechanga Parkway in Temecula on March 8 regarding the theft of a travel trailer. It was learned that the trailer was stolen on March 7 by a heavyset male adult driving a white pick-up truck.

An investigation was launched by the Southwest Station’s Robbery/Burglary Supression Team (RBST). Investigators discovered that three other trailers were stolen from the same storage facility in February and March. Villalpando was identified as a suspect.

At least seven trailers were determined to be stolen by Villalpando. He was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for multiple counts of possession of stolen property and vehicle theft.

Anyone with information about this case or additional incidents involving Villalpando is encouraged to contact Deputy Alfonso Valadez of the Southwest Station RBST Team at 951-696–3032.