Burglary Ring Hits Vacationing L.A. Times Subscribers

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that three men have been arrested in connection with $1 million in burglaries from the homes of vacationing Times subscribers.

The burglaries occurred over the past three years, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.

"Detectives said one of the suspects obtained lists of subscribers who had submitted 'vacation holds' to a vendor that distributes newspapers for the Times. Officials said they have identified 25 victims but believe there are more than 100," the Times reported Wednesday.

Investigators believe that Duane Van Tuinen, 51, of Azusa obtained the vacation lists and passed them on to a group of alleged thieves, including Randall Whitmore, 43 of La Verne, Joshua Box, 43, of Arcadia, and Edwin Valentine, 52 of Covina.

The suspects would visit the addresses on the lists and steal valuables while the residents vacationed, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department press release. More than 25 burglaries from the San Gabriel Valley area have been confirmed as a part of the conspiracy. 

Find more details here.

Will this impact your decision to setup a vacation notification for your Times subscription? Tell us in the comments box below.