Woman arrested on suspicion of stealing over $5K worth of designer bags

TEMECULA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A Temecula woman was arrested Friday after stolen goods, including designer bags, were found during a search of her home and vehicle, authorities said.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, San Marcos area detectives served a search warrant at a residence in the 43000 block of Kensington Place in Temecula as part of an ongoing residential burglary investigation. The resident and suspect was identified by authorities as Katie Rhew.

During the search of her home, detectives found several items that were reported stolen from a residential burglary that occurred in San Marcos. Specifically, several designer bags with a value of more than $5,000 were recovered.

Meanwhile, Rhew was stopped and arrested during a traffic stop two blocks from her house on that same day with the assistance of the Riverside County sheriff’s deputies. Her passenger, identified by police as Gina O’Neill, was also arrested for possession of illegal drugs and identity theft.

During a search of Rhew's vehicle, detectives recovered two packages that had just been reported stolen from the unincorporated area of De Luz, police said. The packages were returned to their owners and those thefts are still under investigation.

Rhew was booked into the Vista Jail on suspicion of residential burglary, possession of illegal drugs and identity theft.