NORTH FORK – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office has received reports that at least five residences in the Cascadel Woods subdivision were burglarized during the mandatory evacuation due to the Willow Fire.
The burglaries reported so far have involved houses on Vista Drive and most of them were discovered in the late evening hours on Sunday as residents were returning to their property when the evacuation order was lifted.
“It would appear that these crimes were committed by someone on foot,” stated Sheriff Varney. “We regret that citizens who were sensible and cooperative with the evacuations were victimized by most likely one of their own neighbors who refused to cooperate in evacuating the Cascadel area.”
One very angry Vista Drive resident refused to comment other than to say, “I don’t want to get involved, I’m going to handle this mountain justice style.”
Varney further stated that “This level of behavior is disgusting, and the Sheriff’s Office will exhaust all leads in determining who the suspect or suspects are.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (559) 675-7770.
