Latest news with #CoronaPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Phoenix man accused in 'elaborate vehicle fraud scheme' using Turo car, police say
Police in California arrested an Arizona man on suspicion of renting a car and selling it to a woman for $23K in cash, warning he and another man were engaged in an "elaborate vehicle fraud scheme." The Corona Police Department posted a summary of the incident on social media, saying both men have a history of similar crimes, and "it is likely there are additional victims." The car seller had been able to rent from the online car-sharing company Turo despite an active warrant for conspiracy and auto theft, police stated. A woman responded to an ad for the car on Craigslist, receiving a title and registration from the man. The documents were forged, the woman later learned. The woman contacted police, and they found another ad online, according to Fox 11 in Los Angeles. Corona police said that investigators with the department arranged a meeting on Feb. 26 with the suspected seller, who soon showed up in a different vehicle he had planned to "fraudulently sell." Sebastian Flores was arrested without incident. At the same time, police stopped another man, Lasso Floris, at the scene who they believed had arrived with Flores and found he had a felony warrant for trafficking stolen vehicles, police said. Police booked both men into jail. The post did not explain whether Floris had any connection to the sale of the Turo vehicle. Flores and Floris reportedly have addresses in the Phoenix area but have ties to southern California, police said. Online court sites in Maricopa and Pima counties did not show criminal histories for the men. The Corona Police Department did not respond to messages seeking further information, as of Tuesday afternoon. When contacted Tuesday evening, a Turo spokesperson said the men were not Turo customers but that they were aware of the incident. Selling rented cars has become easier for criminals who know how to use technology. Last year, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department arrested three men on suspicion of an even more elaborate scheme. The group rented vehicles from an online rental service, advertised them for sale on Facebook Marketplace, sold them for cash, then stole them back and returned them to the rental host. Other vehicles rented from Turo were previously in the news in separate incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas on Jan. 1. Early that morning, an armed man in New Orleans drove a Ford F-150 he rented off Turo into a crowd celebrating hours after 2025 was rung in, killing 15 and injuring dozens. Late that same morning, a man rigged a Turo rented Tesla Cybertruck to explode outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing himself and injuring several bystanders. Turo incidents have also happened in the Valley. On Feb. 1, three men were briefly held at gunpoint by Glendale police after the Turo vehicle they rented turned out to be stolen. Reach the reporter at rstern@ or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern. Arizona Republic reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix man arrested after trying to 'fraudulently sell' Turo vehicle
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
California arsonist sets himself on fire while trying to blow up a car
Southern California authorities were searching Thursday for an arsonist who set himself on fire while trying to blow up a car. The man was caught on doorbell camera footage torching a black sedan, which burst into flames. After the initial burst of light subsided, the alleged arsonist could be seen also ablaze. Clearly feeling a sense of urgency, he leaped over a fence and ran out of frame, dousing as he went. The car, which was parked in a driveway in Corona, about 45 miles east of Los Angeles, continued to burn. The incident took place 'in the early morning hours' of Tuesday, the Corona Fire Department and Corona Police Department said in a joint statement. 'Units arrived on scene to find a vehicle on fire in the front yard of the residence,' the departments said. 'The fire destroyed the vehicle and caused moderate damage [to] the residence. Video from the resident's Ring camera captured a Caucasian or Hispanic male suspect, intentionally set the vehicle and subsequently himself on fire.' Investigators believe the suspect is in his 30s of medium build, 5'9' to 6'1' tall, with shoulder-length, light-colored hair. He fled the scene in a white Chevrolet or GMC pickup truck with tinted windows and light-colored rims, authorities said. As of Thursday, the suspect was still at large and unidentified, with police asking the public for help. Arson investigators were at a loss regarding a motive. 'For now, we think this is a random act of violence,' Corona Fire Capt. Daniel Yonan told the Los Angeles Times. 'He's still on the loose.' Doorbell cameras have captured more than one arsonist setting himself on fire. In December, in Levittown on Long Island, a man ignited a porta potty outside a house under construction, then ran off down the street, blazing away. The fire heavily damaged the front yard and part of the home.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
2 arrested after allegedly trying to sell stolen car they rented on Turo app
The Brief Two men were arrested for allegedly selling cars they'd rented on the Turo app. Sebastian Flores and Lasso Floris allegedly listed the car for sale online and forged the documents. Corona police arrested the duo after finding a similar ad online and arranging a meeting. CORONA, Calif. - Two people were arrested in Corona last week after they allegedly tried to sell a car they rented on the Turo app. Both of the suspects have a history of similar crimes, police say, and officials are now searching for anyone else they may have scammed. What we know Sebastian Flores and Lasso Floris, both from Arizona, were arrested in Corona on Feb. 26. Officials said they were able to track the pair down after a resident had reported being scammed out of thousands of dollars. It started with a Craigslist ad. The victim found the ad for a car on the website, and set up a meeting with the seller. When she showed up, the seller showed her what she thought was the title and registration, and she paid the man $23,000 for the car. SUGGESTED: South American police turn to cosplay for creative crime busts But, when she tried to register her new car at the DMV, she found out that the documents were fake. The car the woman had bought, police said, had actually been rented on the app Turo. After the woman called police, she and officers found another similar ad online. Officers set up another meeting. Flores showed up to the meeting, and officers arrested him. Police said he showed up in another rented car he was trying to sell. When officers checked his record, they found Flores had an active warrant for auto theft. Floris also showed up to that meeting, officers said. When detectives stopped him, they found he also had a warrant out for trafficking stolen cars. Why you should care Police said both Flores and Floris have "extensive" criminal histories, which leads officers to think there may be other victims out there. Anyone who thinks they may have fallen for this scam should call their local police department. What you can do Officers also recommended verifying any documents before buying any car. The Source Information in this story is from a press release from the Corona Police Department issued on March 4, 2025.
