Two suspects that were apprehended in after an attempted residential robbery in Granite Bay last week were on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Terrorist Watchlist, according to a report released today by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
The robbery took place last Friday, Nov. 10 around 7:00 p.m. Granite Bay residents reported that two masked people suspects were trying to break into their house (security footage featured above). When deputies arrived, the two masked suspects fled the area in a black Mercedes SUV.
A helicopter tracked the suspects vehicle to Sacramento County. When it reached Gerber Road and Power Inn Road the suspects struck a sign and fled the vehicle but were apprehended by officers and taken into custody.
Placido Lopez-Vargas, 27, and Angel Emmanuel, 23, were arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary, felony evading arrest and conspiracy.
The sheriff’s reports during the investigation they connected Lopez-Vargas and Emmanuel to a South American Theft Group and both were on the current FBI terrorist watch list for being involved in transnational organized crime.
The department added that in the past year, the sheriff’s office said five people have been arrested in known transnational theft operations. About 20 burglaries, consistent with South American Theft Group methods, have happened in the region and more than a million dollars of property was stolen.