Truesee's Daily Wonder

Temecula burglar leaves calling card

10:56 PM PST on Sunday, February 13, 2011

SARAH BURGE
The Press-Enterprise

Identifying the suspect in a recent tire-theft caper in Temecula required a bit of work for investigators, but no great powers of deduction.

"World's dumbest criminals," said the victim of the theft, Rich Richardson, owner of Best for Less Tire Pros. "I think he could qualify for that."

A man was caught on surveillance cameras removing tires from Richardson's business while driving a van that -- unfortunately for him -- was emblazoned with "Jeff Tires" and his cell phone number, court records state.

 

Jeffrey Lewis Yancey, 32, also known as Jeff Yance Lewis, of Rancho Cucamonga, has pleaded not guilty to burglary and property fraud. He has several prior convictions, court records show. His attorney could not be reached for comment Friday because of the holiday.

Investigators arrested Yancey last month after they went to his home on the ruse of purchasing tires from him, Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. Kevin McDonald   said.

They simply called to arrange the meeting, McDonald said.

"After all, we had his phone number."

Richardson said he arrived at his Via Montezuma business the morning of Jan. 17 to discover the padlock removed from his used-tire storage container and more than a dozen tires missing.

Reviewing surveillance camera footage from around 4 a.m. that day, he clearly saw an older two-tone van with "Jeff Tires" and a phone number on the side pulling up to the container.

The driver, who police later identified as Yancey, can be seen in the video retrieving bolt cutters from the van, then tossing them into a trailer attached to it. Another man can be seen throwing tires into the trailer.

Investigators learned that the phone number belonged to Yancey and matched his driver's license photo with surveillance images of the van driver, court records state. They also discovered that, when Yancey had been arrested in the past, he had listed his occupation as "Tire Sales," the documents state.

A search of Yancey's home uncovered stolen tires, bolt cutters and a methamphetamine pipe, court records show.

McDonald said investigators suspect Yancey in similar thefts of used tires, including a burglary reported Jan. 19 at 5 Brothers Tire and Service on Jefferson Avenue in Temecula. In that case, 40 tires worth about $2,000 were stolen. But that theft was not captured on video.

Richardson said that, while he was upset his business was targeted, he can appreciate the humor. With a look of disbelief, he shook his head.

"It's so stupid, it's funny."

LINK TO SURVEILLANCE VIDEO:

www.pe.com/video/index.html?bcid=790154910001