Murrieta Crime: Woman arrested at Wal Mart after shopping, stolen car recovered
On Saturday, 11/29/08 at 1223pm Officer David Lawlor, working the Safe Shopper Detail, spotted an older model Honda Accord in the parking lot of Wal-Mart at 41200 Murrieta Hot Springs Road in Murrieta. The vehicle was occupied by a single passenger, who was watching customers as they were walking by. This subject appeared suspicious, which prompted Officer Lawlor to run the license plate on the vehicle.
The vehicle returned as a stolen vehicle from the City of Moreno Valley. Officers detained the passenger and decided to wait for the driver of the vehicle to return. A short time later an adult female, later identified as Sherri Rangel, returned to the vehicle and was detained by officers. Rangel was the named suspect in the original vehicle theft report, and was also identified by witnesses as the driver of the stolen vehicle.
The passenger was not charged with a crime and was released at the scene. Rangel was arrested and charged with: CVC 10851 - Auto Theft, an outstanding felony warrant for PC 666 - Theft w/priors, and an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for PC 490.5 - Shoplifting. Rangel was later transported to the Southwest Detention Center where she was booked for the above listed charges.