VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) -- A realtor who used to be a cop said his radar went up when he saw a parked car overflowing with moving boxes and a very nervous woman next to it.
10,000 people were evacuated during the Lilac Fire; hundreds of homes destroyed or damaged, and one was looted.
Sacheen Silvercloud was arraigned on burglary charges in Vista Court; arrested outside a home that was for sale and vacant because of the evacuation order.
Deputy district attorney Nicole Rooney told the judge, "While taking photos for the real estate investor, she saw property inside that she decided she wanted. The owner was evacuated at the time due to the Lilac fire so she went in, stole the items, and was caught in the act."
Torrey Cluett is retired from Carlsbad Police Dept. He's now a realtor who'd gone up to check on the house after the evacuation order was lifted.
He spotted "A white car, parked under the pepper tree, the trunk open, stuff sticking out of the window, piled in the trunk."
He saw movement behind the shed and a woman jumped out. "She was pretty nervous. Had a story right off but didn't do a good job of selling it cause.. nervous as she was."
She told him she was an investor and was there to take some photos...
But he didn't buy it; not with that car loaded down as it was. "Clothes, books, ornaments, cleaning supplies, everything you pack up to get ready to move."
It was the caretaker's belongings.
Cluett called deputies and they arrested Silvercloud.
Bail is $50,000. If convicted she faces up to six years in prison.
