Firefighters Catch Suspects After Robbery

A Mission Viejo woman was robbed Tuesday night by men she had stopped to help on Ortega Highway, authorities said, but the suspects later were caught by volunteer firefighters from a nearby station.

Rebecca Schiller was driving east on Ortega Highway through Cleveland National Forest when she stopped to help another driver in a blue Chevrolet with a black top who had stopped in the middle of the road, a spokesman for the Riverside County sheriff said Wednesday.

The man approached her car, opened the driver’s door and demanded Schiller’s money and jewelry, while another man opened the passenger door and displayed a knife, said Deputy Carl Allen.

Schiller emptied her wallet, but as she was removing her jewelry, Allen said, another eastbound car approached and the robbers fled.

Schiller drove to the El Cariso Fire Station, which is located just inside Riverside County about 4 1/2 miles northeast of Sitton Peak.

Four firefighters searched for the robbers and found the blue Chevrolet about four miles inside the Orange County line near San Juan Hot Springs. They detained seven men in and around the car, two of whom Schiller later identified.

Riverside County sheriff’s deputies arrested Rafael Valencia, 32, and Raul Lopez, 30, both of Mexico City, on suspicion of robbery, Allen said. Both were held on $15,000 bail.

Deputies said they believed the other five men are illegal aliens and turned them over to the U.S. Border Patrol at Temecula, Allen said.

Border Patrol agents returned the five men to Mexico after they all agreed to voluntary deportation, said Ron Barbeau, patrol agent in charge.