Fallbrook detectives work with agencies in Riverside, Orange counties to solve theft at local school

Fallbrook Sheriff's detectives utilized their connections with law enforcement officers in the bordering counties of Riverside and Orange to find the suspects that had stolen money and credit cards from two teachers at William H. Frazier elementary school.

"Detectives recalled hearing that similar cases were occurring in Riverside and Orange County and began making phone calls," said Lt. Robert Haley, commander of the Fallbrook Sheriff's substation. "That led to the arrest of a woman in Corona in connection with the crime here."

Haley said that on January 25, sometime between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., wallets containing money and credit cards were stolen from two special education teachers at Frazier elementary school. The items were inside the classroom the teachers were assigned to.

Subsequently, the two women's credit cards were used in a buying spree that traversed county lines.

"The cards were used to make purchases at Best Buy, various Orange County businesses, Ralph's grocery stores, Jack-in-the-Box restaurants, gas stations and more," said Haley, who estimated the charges to be "in the hundreds of dollars."

When detectives collectively reviewed surveillance videos from various stores in Orange and Riverside counties where the purchases were made with the stolen cards, it was observed that the same women were in all the videos.

"A crime analyst in Riverside recognized a suspect, Denise Burns, from a prior case," said Haley. "That led them to track her down to her residence in Corona where she was contacted and arrested."

Burns, a parolee, was placed under arrest and her two sisters, who lived in the same trailer park, were also contacted as part of the investigation. One sister was also a parolee and the other was on probation.

"All of these women have Fourth waivers (lost their Fourth Amendment rights due to prior charges)," said Haley.

Burns was booked into a Riverside County jail.

"The investigation is ongoing," said Haley. "This case is still being completed, there is a lot of data to research and compile."

It is uncertain how Burns gained access to the Frazier campus and classroom, but some feel it could have occurred during student drop off/pick up times.

"[These suspects] have been very effective at this in other places prior to this; it's likely they tried to appear to look like a parent," said Haley.