One day after Riverside County Hemet Station Commander Capt. Scot Collins and staff addressed a capacity Idyllwild crowd about a property crime spike, burglars hit the American Legion. Legion Commander Ron Draper confirmed that burglars broke through two back windows sometime after Legion staff had closed the facility at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 25. Hemet Station Special Investigations Supervisor Sgt. Wallace Clear confirmed that a responding deputy collected evidence at the scene.
Damage, according to Draper, consisted of broken glass and torn window screens. An empty cash register and a “Girls Night Out” tip jar, containing around $300, were taken. The tips are used to fund mini-vacations for women bartenders and servers, according to Draper.
Burglars unsuccessfully attempted to take the ATM. They brought tools to cut security bolts. Draper concluded that burglars were wearing gloves because of the streaks rather than prints on the windows. They also left footprints. At least one of the burglars wore very large shoes, based on prints at the scene. Several other clues were left which investigators are pursuing.
Anyone with information on this crime should call Sgt. Clear at (951) 659-3412.