Shoplifting in Temecula brings investigation to light, family pleads guilty

Thomas Edward Balandran, 51, Breeanna Marie Balandran, 19, and Sherri Marie Alvarez, 48, entered into consent agreements Wednesday.

May 22, 2024, 7:54 p.m. PDT | Updated May 22, 2024, 7:55 p.m. PDT

TEMECULA, Calif. – After a Temecula retailer was defrauded last month, investigators linked the crime to a family allegedly involved in a string of retail thefts throughout Southern California.

Now the defendants have pleaded guilty to the alleged crimes.

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Thomas Edward Balandran, 51, Breeanna Marie Balandran, 19, and Sherri Marie Alvarez, 48, all of Jurupa Valley, entered into plea agreements with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday. Each of the defendants admitted organized retail theft with intent to resell goods. Thomas Balandran also admitted charges of conspiracy and grand larceny as well as probation violations.

According to Sgt. Josh Hephner of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the defendants came to investigators’ attention after a theft occurred on April 24 in the 32100 block of Temecula Parkway. A retail store was attacked and $1,000 worth of merchandise was stolen.

“During the course of the investigation, it was confirmed that the suspects were responsible for at least 10 separate thefts in Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties,” the sergeant said. “In total, they caused over $7,000 in damages, and it is believed that there are additional unidentified thefts.”

Hephner said detectives soon located additional “residences that were believed to be knowingly purchasing stolen merchandise with the intent of reselling it for a profit.” This is also known as ‘receiving stolen property’.”

Search warrants served at a Moreno Valley residence netted “over $3,000 in additional stolen merchandise,” according to Hephner.

Thomas Edward Balandran, Breeanna Marie Balandran and Sherri Marie Alvarez — along with a 17-year-old boy whose identity was not released — were arrested May 13 at a residence in the 6800 block of Valley Way in Jurupa Valley.

Superior Court Judge Jeff Zimel confirmed the terms of the agreements during a hearing Wednesday at the Riverside Hall of Justice. The judge gave Thomas Balandran a prison sentence of two years and eight months.

The women were each sentenced to two years probation. Zimel also ordered both to participate in a sheriff’s work release program for four to six months. During this time, they must continue to work or participate in vocational training or similar programs.

The women received lighter sentences after prosecutors dropped charges of similar offenses against the two in exchange for admitting charges of organized retail theft.

The judge ordered the parole board to determine the amount of victim compensation to be paid by the defendants.

According to court records, Thomas Balandran has prior convictions for drug possession and shoplifting, while Sherri Alvarez has prior convictions for petty theft. Breeanna Balandran has no prior convictions in Riverside County.

— Patch Editor Toni McAllister and City News Service contributed to this report.