Staff Reports SGV – Eight people were arrested for their alleged involvement in a residential burglary ring that targeted Los Angeles Times subscribers, whose names were on stolen “Vacation Hold” lists. The ring is accused of stealing an estimated $1 million in electronics and other items in the burglaries that took place in Diamond Bar, Walnut, Hacienda Heights, Chino Hills, West Covina, Arcadia, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Redlands and Ontario. The 14 burglaries occurred between December 2011 and November 2012. All suspects pleaded not guilty to charges. All eight defendants, as follows, are charged with multiple counts of burglary, along with two counts each of conspiracy to commit a crime: Randal Joseph Whitmore, 44; Duane Vantuinen, 52; Joshua Ray Box, 44; Lorraine Marlene Vasquez, 41; Cory Mulligan, 22; Brian Thomas Duran, 42; Margaret Mary Susan High, 29; and Edwin Lynn Valentine, 53. The investigation began when Whitmore was stopped for a traffic violation on June 24, 2012. Police discovered stolen property and Los Angeles Times Vacation Hold lists inside the vehicle. The lists gave the suspected burglars the names and addresses, as well as the dates that the subscribers would be out of town and suspending paper deliveries. The suspects are in custody with bail amounts ranging from $1.6 million to $2.6 million. They were expected in court on December 10 for their pre-trial hearing at Pomona Superior Court. According to the District Attorney’s Office, if convicted of all charges, each one faces at least 20 years in state prison.
