Deputies arrest food thief and recover stolen packages

Karen Ossenfort

Special to Village News

A peaceful Tuesday morning, May 10, on Hillpark Lane turned exciting for a Fallbrook resident, who returned home to find a stranger in her home eating her food.

When confronted, the female suspect grabbed food from the pantry and also packages that had been delivered, and left.

Having called the sheriff, the homeowner followed her and tried to stop her, telling her to wait for the deputies, according to Lt. Aldo Hernandez. The suspect would not comply and left the area on foot.

Deputies arrived and investigated, and looked for the suspect. San Diego County Sheriff’s Helicopter ASTREA assisted and located the suspect.

Hernandez said the suspect ran through someone’s back yard to evade capture. “Deputies caught up to the suspect on Santa Margarita and she was uncooperative,” he said.

Through a curbside line-up, the suspect was positively identified by the victim. Hernandez said the alleged suspect and transient, Gabriela Orozco, 37, was arrested and booked into the Vista Detention Facility on the charge of residential burglary.

Deputies were able to recover all the stolen packages.