(Valley Springs, CA) On October 1, 2012 at approx. 10:00 PM
Calaveras Sheriff's Deputies responded to the Jenny Lind Memorial
Veteran's Ball Park in Valley Springs for a report of multiple thefts
from eight separate unlocked vehicles. The victims discovered the thefts
after they had finished playing a softball game. One victim reported
that he had a $600.00 pool cue stolen. At the time of the theft he
observed a woman walking down the road with the pool cue, so he followed
her to an apartment on the 100 block of Pine Street, Valley Springs.
The victim led the deputies to the apartment. At the apartment the
deputies contacted and spoke with the female suspect, identified as Sara
Michelle Riddle (27) of Valley Springs. She was interviewed and denied
knowing anything about the thefts. At the apartment the deputies also
spoke with Suspect Riddle's boyfriend, Patrick Seneca Elkins (33) of
Valley Springs. Suspect Elkins, when asked about the stolen pool cue,
led the deputies inside the apartment where the $600 pool cue was
stashed, along with a second pool cue. The victim positively identified
the pool cues as belonging to him.
While inside the apartment the deputies identified about 50 pieces
of additional stolen property that had been taken from the victims'
vehicles. The investigating deputies notified Sheriff's Detectives who
responded to the apartment to serve a search warrant. During the search
the detectives located a majority of the property that had been stolen.
Additionally, other property was located that may have been stolen
during prior thefts in the area. This portion of the incident is still
under investigation.
In all, over $1,400.00 in property had been stolen, along with over
$200 in cash. Additional stolen property included personal electronic
devices, coolers, clothing, alcoholic beverages, and duffel/equipment
bags. Both Suspect Riddle and Suspect Elkins were taken into custody and
booked into the Calaveras County Jail on charges that they violated
California Penal Codes 488: Petty Theft (misdemeanor) and 496:
Possession of Stolen Property (felony).
