In a brazen daylight heist, a trio of thieves, including two teenagers, snatched over $7,700 in goods from a retail store in Lake Elsinore before being arrested Tuesday, local authorities reported. Lake Elsinore Sheriff's deputies said the suspects stormed into the store around 3 p.m. with large bags and swiftly made off with high-end merchandise.

The culprits didn't get far, as patrolling deputies from the Lake Mathews Sheriff’s Station later spotted the getaway car, a red Hyundai Elantra, on the northbound 15 Freeway. A traffic stop ensued, and the three suspects were promptly detained. At the wheel was 34-year-old Delvin Bell; in the back seat were two undisclosed minors, aged 16, and hailing from Los Angeles.

Bell now faces charges for grand theft, organized retail theft, and felony child endangerment, all stemming from the Lake Elsinore incident and an earlier theft in Eastvale. The two juveniles tangled up in this web of crime have been charged with grand theft and organized retail theft as well, according to a statement by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Physical evidence linking the suspects to the crimes was found in the vehicle — authorities recovered the stolen loot, totalling up to $7,700. While Sgt. Robert Thomas spearheaded the initial response, Deputy Noel is currently digging deeper into this case, a case that, while shocking, reflects the broader challenge of organized retail crime that plagues our communities.

As the investigation unfolds, those with knowledge of the incident are urged to step forward and aid in the pursuit of justice. Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station can be reached at (951) 245–3300 for details, and pressing matters or crimes in action should immediately prompt calls to either Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776–1099 or 911.