Crime & Safety

Temecula Man Arrested in Burglary of Murrieta Home

Elliott Doneff, 20, of Temecula, was being held on $35,000 bail in the alleged burglary that was reported at about 12:08 p.m. Wednesday in Murrieta, police said.

A Temecula man suspected of breaking into a home Wednesday in Murrieta was arrested after he was positively identified by the victim, police said.

Elliott Doneff, 20, was being held on $35,000 bail in the alleged burglary that was reported at about 12:08 p.m. Wednesday by a resident in the 24000 block of Appian Way in Murrieta.

"The resident came home and a guy came running down from upstairs," Murrieta police Lt. Rob Firmes told Patch. "The resident confronted him—they engaged in a brief scuffle—and (the suspect) took off out the back door of the residence."

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The victim contacted police and provided a description of the suspect and said that he had taken a backpack with him. Officers began looking for him based on the information, police said.

"An alert Murrieta police officer observed a male subject, who closely matched the suspect description, a short distance away from the victims' residence," Murrieta police Sgt. Don Weller wrote, in a news release about the alleged burglary. 

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According to Firmes, the suspect was located near Symphony Park Drive, off of California Oaks Road.

Police said the suspect was detained and then positively ID'd by the victim.

"Investigation revealed the backpack the suspect was carrying contained miscellaneous items stolen from inside the residence," Weller said. "This backpack was ultimately located and the contents inside were returned to the victim."

Doneff was arrested and booked at Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of residential burglary in the first degree. He was still in custody as of Wednesday night, sheriff's jail records indicated.

Anyone with information regarding this case was asked to call the Murrieta Police Department at 951-696-3615 and ask for the on-duty watch commander. Information can also be provided anonymously through "We Tip" by calling 1-800-78-Crime. 


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