Redlands Police Disrupt Multi-Jurisdictional, Multi-County Theft Ring

Since January 2014, several burglaries and thefts have occurred in the Live Oak Canyon area. The area covers the city of Redlands and the unincorporated parts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The Redlands Police Department initiated a specialized investigation using various tactics and resources. Authorities believed the thefts were being committed by the same suspects. On Wednesday, April 23 in the early morning hours, Redlands police officers stopped a white Ford Ranger truck at Live Oak Canyon Road/ Interstate 10. Police located items including construction equipment, construction parts, and mail that had just been stolen from four different residences in Live Oak Canyon mail. Police arrested Edward Todd Champ (47 years old) and Ahmad Jamal McAlister (38 years old) for possession of stolen property. Champ was also arrested for a parole violation. The truck also contained two mountain bikes which may possibly be unreported stolen property. As a result of the arrest, detectives from the Redlands Police Department served a search warrant at a residence located in the 12000 block of 14th St. in Yucaipa, California. Detectives located over $45,000 in stolen property at the residence. The stolen property included a trailer, construction equipment, power tools, hand tools, appliances, air compressors, and tractor parts. The property was determined to be stolen from eight different residences located in Live Oak Canyon over the course of several months. At the residence in Yucaipa, detectives also arrested Richard Blair Whitling (48 years old) for possession of a controlled substance and Cecil Hunter (43 years old) for outstanding warrants. Further investigation led to detectives serving a search warrant at a storage facility located in Yucaipa. Inside the storage facility, detectives located additional stolen property that included a motorcycle, four firearms, furniture, dirt bike riding gear, antiques, and mountain bikes. Police also located a stolen ATV at a residence located on the 2000 block of Mt. Vernon in San Bernardino. In all, police were able to return over $70,000 in stolen property to eleven different victims that lived in four different cities. All suspects were residents of Yucaipa. Police obtained $100K bail enhancement on Edward Champ. Police still have two mountain bikes that they believe are stolen.