Rialto police investigating a series of almost two dozen burglaries of storage units in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles County arrested a boyfriend and girlfriend on Thursday, Nov. 14, and said more than $100,000 in property was recovered.

Detectives served a warrant at a Fontana residence and arrested the couple, who are in their 30s, said Rialto Detective Sgt. David Padilla. There, police found electronics, high-value purses and clothing that were believed to have been stolen, he said.

Another warrant was served at Extra Space Storage on Sterling Avenue in San Bernardino, Padilla said, where two units were searched. At the time Padilla spoke, only the first unit had been searched. Inside, he said, was more than $100,000 in pilfered property, including dental equipment that the owner valued at $30,000 as well as Lego sets and tools.

Some of the recovered property has sentimental value and other items were going to be Christmas presents, he said.

Police are pleased to be able to return the property to their owners, Padilla said.

It feels great, especially because we want the community to know we are committed to doing our job, Padilla said. We are going to follow every investigative lead.

A Rialto police officer arrests a Fontana resident on Nov. 14, 2024, after a warrant was served on his home in connection with the theft of property from 20 storage units in San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles counties. (Courtesy of Rialto Police Department)

The investigation spanned several weeks. Padilla said Extra Space Storage employees provided valuable tips and that surveillance images linked a car to the 20 thefts in the cities of Rialto and Fontana and Riverside and Los Angeles counties.

The couple would break the locks on units, mostly in the overnight hours, Padilla said. He said he believes the man and woman, who are both on probation after theft convictions, planned to sell the merchandise. They both also have convictions for possession of illegal drugs, he said.