An Inland Empire resident is warning others after thieves targeted and drilled into her vehicle to steal gasoline.

The incident occurred on Sept. 19 as Heather Velasco parked her truck outside Kindred Hospital in Rancho Cucamonga where she works.

Later that day, she and a coworker were heading out to lunch when she approached her truck and noticed a strong gasoline odor.

Thinking it was emanating from a nearby diesel truck, they got into the car and began driving but immediately, Velasco knew something was wrong. Her truck was only three years old, so she was surprised anything would be malfunctioning.

“We drove across the street and my car started sputtering,” she recalled.

She eventually pulled over and that’s when she discovered someone had drilled into her truck’s fuel tank to empty the vehicle.

“I just looked under and sure enough, there was a hole and it was leaking gas and then I looked up and I saw another hole,” she said.

Velasco called the police and had her truck towed away. She was left with costly repairs in the aftermath — pay $4,000 upfront to fix the damages or pay a $1,000 deductible with an increase to her insurance premium. She chose to fix her truck by claiming her insurance.

She was also left without a car for a week which meant relying on others to drive her three children to school and at times, missing out on shifts at her workplace.

“It’s hard times,” Velasco said. “We’re living in times where everything is inflated. Trying to raise a family and trying to do things right. You’re not getting anywhere because you got these criminals on the run and they’re just doing whatever they want.”

Police noted there have been several cases of gas siphoning in the area since 2023.

In nearby Upland, police arrested a man on Sept. 23 for allegedly trying to steal gas from a box truck on the 800 block of North Mountain Avenue.

Velasco said she’s thankful no one was hurt, but is now worried that she can’t safely park her truck anywhere without fear of being targeted again.

“We should be able to go in, clock in and feel like your stuff is safe out there,” she said of parking at her workplace.

Local police recommend protecting your vehicle by having an active alarm system to deter thieves and parking near security cameras when possible.

“If you have access to it, park in a secure location like a garage or gated area, then that would be best, but otherwise parking underneath a lit area [would also be helpful],” said Upland Police Sgt. Eric DiVincenzo.

No suspect has been arrested so far as the incident remains under investigation.

Residents in one San Bernardino County neighborhood are being urged to remain vigilant after a pair of “overly friendly” strangers snatched a necklace from the neck of one victim.

Two incidents involving the suspects were reported about a mile apart Thursday morning in Chino Hills.

Deputies first responded to Calle San Marcos Park, in Chino Hills, around 9:30 a.m. regarding suspicious activity, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department stated in a news release.

“A male and female contacted the reporting party in public. They wanted to shake the reporting party’s hand and appeared overly friendly. The reporting party believed the suspects intended to steal jewelry from his person,” the Sherrif’s Department stated.

The man and woman were located and stopped by a deputy but during the traffic stop another service call was made from a victim who had a necklace stolen from his neck earlier in the morning in the 3200 block of Skyview Ridge.

Investigators determined the same suspects, identified as Washington residents Dorian Stanescu, 31, and Laura Ghiocel, 34, were involved in both incidents.

Stanescu and Ghiocel were arrested for grand theft from a person and were booked at the West Valley Detention Center, the Sheriff’s Department stated.

Deputies later urged Chino Hills community members to remain vigilant when strangers approach in public spaces.

“Recently, incidents have increased where individuals, often posing as friendly or helpful, distract victims to steal valuable items, particularly jewelry,” the Sheriff’s Department stated.

Deputies said the thieves often try to divert the victim’s attention away from their belongings.

Anyone with information regarding Thursday’s incidents was asked to call the Chino Hills Police Department at 909-364-2000. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can contact the We-Tip Hotline at 800-782-7463.

Family members and authorities are searching for a missing Indigenous woman who has not been seen for weeks.

Gabrielle Lund, 25, was last seen on Sept. 5 at around noontime, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

She had traveled to L.A. from South Dakota to attend a rehabilitation program, authorities said.

Her last known location was the Union Rescue Mission located at 545 South San Pedro Street in downtown L.A.

A Feather Alert was issued by police on Thursday, Sept. 26 after her loved ones failed to contact her.

Lund is described as a woman standing 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing around 160 pounds. She has black hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black tank top and black leggings.

A Feather Alert is issued by law enforcement agencies “investigating the suspicious or unexplainable disappearance of an Indigenous woman or Indigenous person,” according to the California Highway Patrol.

Anyone who has seen the missing woman or knows of her whereabouts is urged to call LAPD Detective Franco at 213-996-1800 or dial 911. The public can also call LAPD at 1-877-527-3247. 

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.