Lake Havasu City Police Officers were dispatched to the 1900 block of Rainbow Drive North on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, at approximately 1:15 p.m., after an alert neighbor called to report a burglary in progress at a residence. The neighbor observed two male subjects dressed in all black clothing carrying a large item which appeared to be a safe out of a residence. The subjects loaded the item into the bed of a pickup truck and fled the area quickly in the vehicle prior to officer’s arrival.

Officers arrived on scene within minutes and discovered forced entry had been made into the residence. During the investigation, surveillance video was discovered in the area and a good description of the suspect vehicle was obtained from the video. Officers continued canvassing the surrounding neighborhoods looking for the vehicle.

About an hour and a half later, the vehicle, a newer model black 4-door Toyota Tundra, was located at a motel in the 2000 block of Acoma Boulevard West. Officers were able to identify the room the truck was associated with.  As officers were attempting to make contact with the occupants of the room, two male subjects jumped out of the motel room rear window and took off running.  The two male subjects were taken into custody after a foot pursuit.  One of those males was a juvenile.  A third subject was taken into custody inside of the motel room.

The Lake Havasu City Police Department Criminal Investigation Unit served two search warrants; one at the motel room around 7:25 p.m., and one at one of the suspect’s residences in the 3900 block of Brookside Drive around 8:50 p.m. Two vehicles parked at the motel and belonging to the subjects were also searched. Multiple items of stolen property including jewelry, firearms and burglary tools were recovered. The investigation is ongoing and detectives are attempting to identify additional victims of the recovered property.

The stolen safe from the residence on Rainbow Drive North was located in the desert area off of Trotwood Drive and had been pried open.  The subjects were additionally charged with a burglary that occurred on October 29, 2017, in the 1100 block of Cascade Drive.

As a result of the investigation, 36-year-old Lake Havasu City resident Richard L. Schopp was charged with burglary, theft, possession of a weapon by a prohibited person, possession of a weapon in a drug offense, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. During his initial appearance, Schopp was held on a $50,000 cash only bond and transferred to the custody of the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office.   Schopp was released from prison in July of 2016 for similar crimes in Lake Havasu City.

Michael J. Hildreth, a 45-year-old California resident was charged with burglary, theft and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person. During his initial appearance, Hildreth was held on a $50,000 cash only bond and transferred to the custody of the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office.

A 17-year-old male juvenile resident of Lake Havasu City was charged with burglary and theft.  The juvenile was booked into juvenile detention.

Public Information Officer:  Sergeant Tom Gray (928) 855-1171

Booking photos of Richard L. Schopp and Michael J. Hildreth.