Booking Photo of Calimesa Suspect Released

Sheriff's officials on Tuesday released a booking photo of a Calimesa man arrested Monday on suspicion of burglary and using stolen credit cards.

Phillip Matthew Gates, 38, of Calimesa, was arrested during a search warrant service at his home, sheriff's officials said.

The warrant stemmed from a vehicle burglary on June 6 that took place in the 100 block of East Avenue L in Calimesa, Sgt. Sean Bahash of the sheriff's Cabazon Station said.

The victim's wallet was taken during the burglary, and his credit cards were used at several locations in the city of Calimesa, Bahash said.

Investigators from the Cabazon Station followed several leads and identified Gates as a suspect, Bahash said. Surveillance video allegedly showed Gates using the stolen credit cards, Bahash said.

On Monday, investigators served the search warrant at Gates' residence, which is in the same neighborhood where the alleged burglary occurred, Bahash said.

Property stolen from the burglarized vehicle was recovered from Gates' residence and from Gates himself, Bahash said.

Gates was arrested and booked Monday afternoon at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, on felony charges related to burglary, fraudulent use of a credit card, and possession of stolen property, Bahash said.

Gates was booked on six separate felonies and his bail was listed Tuesday at $5,000, a jailer at Smith Correctional said in a phone interview.

Anyone with further information about the alleged burglary was urged to call Investigator Brett Hensley at the Cabazon Station at (951) 922-7100) or Riverside County sheriff's dispatch at 1-800-950-2444, or send an email to CabazonStation@RiversideSheriff.org.