OAKHURST — Two local burglary suspects were apprehended late last week with the aid of an alert home owner — and their home surveillance system.
The incident, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, began Thursday (Jan. 30) shortly before 9 a.m. when the Sheriff’s Communication Center received a call for service for an in-progress residential burglary in the 48000 block of Road 620 in Oakhurst.
Via a live stream home surveillance system, the homeowner, who was not home at the time, observed two subjects, an adult male and adult female, burglarizing his property.
MCSO deputies, as well as officers from the California Highway Patrol, responded to the location. Upon arrival, they discovered a broken window at the residence. While on scene, deputies observed a vehicle driven by a male adult matching the description of the suspect traveling down Road 620 near the residence.
When deputies attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed, ultimately crashing. The driver of the vehicle attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly detained by deputies.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Gilbert Beecher, 28, a North Fork resident.
After a records check, it was determined that the vehicle Beecher was driving was stolen from a nearby residence on Road 620. He was also found to be in possession of stolen items from the residence.
Later in the day, deputies located the female suspect shown in the video surveillance, Cassie Johnson, 27, of Oakhurst. She was also taken into custody.
Beecher was booked into the Madera County Department of Corrections on charges of violation of post release community supervision, recklessly evading a peace officer, interfering with an officer, residential burglary, and possession of a controlled substance.
Johnson was booked for felony residential burglary.
