Modesto Police: 2 burglary suspects targeted homes of recently deceased

Two people were arrested, including a Denair woman, in connection to burglaries that targeted homes of people who had recently died and the elderly, authorities said.

On Tuesday at 3 p.m., investigators with the Modesto Police Department Street Gang Unit stopped a stolen vehicle near 10th and D streets, according to Heather Graves, spokeswoman for the Modesto Police Department.

The vehicle was determined to have been stolen during a residential burglary on Sunday. The driver also had property stolen from the victim’s residence, Graves said.

In the vehicle were driver Allen Prichard, 38, of Sacramento, and passenger Nicole Patterson, 40, of Denair.

A search warrant of a Turlock motel room the two were sharing turned up more stolen goods, including those allegedly tied to burglaries in Merced and Waterford, Graves said.

Two of the victims had recently died, Graves said. There also was at least one elderly victim.

Prichard and Patterson were arrested on suspicion of burglary, auto theft, possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle, conspiracy, and possession of a controlled substance.

Prichard had an additional charge of identity theft.

This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 9:20 PM with the headline "Modesto Police: 2 burglary suspects targeted homes of recently deceased."