In a brazen theft at a U.S. Army Reserve Center near Santa Ana, California, three Humvees and a range of military equipment were stolen amidst the backdrop of devastating wildfires. The incident occurred between 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the Tustin Police Department’s report on Facebook. Thieves gained entry by cutting through a perimeter fence at the Army Reserve Center, located in the vicinity of Santa Ana. Although they attempted to break into a storage facility containing military uniforms, they were unsuccessful.
The stolen items included three Humvees, machine gun vehicle mounts, free-standing machine gun tripods, medical equipment, binoculars, and bayonets. The Army confirmed that no additional weapons were taken during the theft. The theft of military assets was discovered after the break-in, prompting an investigation by the authorities.
By Saturday, law enforcement had recovered two of the stolen Humvees, which were located in the nearby cities of Santa Ana and Orange. However, one armored Humvee and other pieces of military equipment remain unaccounted for. Authorities suspect that the theft involved multiple individuals and are continuing to investigate the crime.
Meanwhile, California continues to battle wildfires that have raged since Tuesday, claiming the lives of 16 people. The ongoing fires have caused widespread devastation, prompting the activation of more than 600 California National Guard troops to assist in firefighting efforts. Additionally, the Pentagon has deployed eight modular airborne firefighting systems in preparation to support the containment efforts.
As authorities work to recover the remaining stolen military items and battle the destructive fires, the combination of criminal activity and natural disaster has posed significant challenges for both law enforcement and emergency services in the region.
