On Monday, July 1, 2024, the Victorville Police Department received a report of grand theft from Spectrum Communications. The company reported that a generator was stolen from their work site by an unknown perpetrator. The Rural Crime Investigators took over the case and responded to the scene later that day, where they gathered evidence that an older model Dodge Durango with no license plates had been used to hook up to the generator and drive away.
Following their investigation, the Rural Crime Investigators located the Durango and identified Cecil Amar Barrera, a 24-year-old resident of San Bernardino, as the suspect involved in the theft. After searching several locations in the high desert, they found Barrera at a rural property at the intersection of Sonora Road and Power Line Road in Phelan, along with the Dodge Durango, a stolen generator, a stolen flatbed trailer, and a tractor, which had been taken from an Arizona Pipeline job site in Victorville on the same day.
Upon being informed, Spectrum Communications and Arizona Pipeline arrived at the scene and recovered their equipment. The total value of the recovered items was estimated to be $66,000. Additionally, two more stolen trailers were discovered, bringing the total recovery to approximately $100,000.
Cecil Amar Barrera was arrested for possession of stolen property and outstanding warrants. He is currently detained at the High Desert Detention Center on $60,000 bail. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact Deputy L. Torres at the Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station at 760-552-6800. Callers can choose to remain anonymous and contact We-Tip at 800-78CRIME or www.wetip.com.
