Burglars rob homes while impersonating firefighters battling Fairview fire

Houses in Hemet evacuated because of the Fairview fire have been attacked by burglars, authorities said.

On Sunday, three people were arrested on suspicion of breaking into a home in the area under evacuation orders, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said. The three suspects were all Hemet residents: Deven Hooker, 31; John Blackwood, 42; and Michael Edward Serrano, 50.

They were charged with breaking and entering and looting in an evacuation area. Hooker was separately charged with possession of a controlled substance.

They remain in custody at Smith Correctional Facility near Banning, prison records show.

The home of a former firefighter with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection was also attacked on Friday.

The ex-firefighter, who asked to be identified only as “Terry,” told KCBS-TV Channel 2 that he and his wife left their home without locking the front door, and Terry said they were given thousands worth of jewelry was stolen by Dollar, the channel reported.

According to Sgt. Brandi Schwan.

Swan said Terry told authorities he was approached by a man wearing an orange vest. Terry’s neighbors captured a person wearing an orange vest exiting his home on their home security video about 30 minutes after the couple left. According to the broadcaster, another suspect can later be seen in the video.

Terry told KCBS that he also received a notification on his own Ring doorbell camera, but he couldn’t view the recording.