On October 20, 2025, deputies from the Lake Mathews Sheriff’s Station responded to a report of construction equipment theft valued at about $11,000 on the 24000 block of Hill Top Drive in Lake Mathews, an unincorporated area of Riverside County. Upon arrival, deputies searched the area but did not locate any suspects.
The investigation was later taken over by the Lake Mathews Station Special Enforcement Team on November 20, which identified Sergio Fernandez, age 34 and a resident of Perris, as a suspect in connection with the theft.
On December 9, authorities located Fernandez at a residence in the 20000 block of Souder Street in Perris. A search warrant was executed at that location and Fernandez was arrested without incident. The stolen construction equipment was not found at that address. Fernandez was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on charges including grand theft and vehicle theft.
Further investigation led officers to recover the stolen construction equipment at another residence on Jurupa Road in Jurupa Valley. The property has since been returned to its owner.
“This is an ongoing investigation, and no additional details are available at this time. The Riverside Sheriff’s Lake Mathews Station requests that anyone with information regarding this investigation contact Deputy Torres with the Lake Mathews Station Special Enforcement Team by calling (951) 272–5600 or the Riverside Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776–1099.”
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