In a recent crackdown on vehicle theft, Riverside County law enforcement apprehended 52-year-old Shawn Bannister from Riverside after a coordinated effort involving multiple specialized teams. According to a press release by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the initial incident took place on April 25, 2025, when deputies responded to a report of a stolen travel trailer and golf cart on Oneal Road in Wildomar.
The Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station’s Robbery and Burglary Suppression Team took charge of the investigation, identifying Bannister as a suspect. During their persistent search, they also determined the whereabouts of the stolen property conversations and coordination ensued, and on July 24, a search warrant was executed at Bannister’s location in Riverside. In the operation, the Riverside Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, Lake Elsinore Special Enforcement Team, and the Riverside County Auto Theft Task Force worked in tandem, successfully discovering not only the reported stolen travel trailer and golf cart but also two additional vehicles believed to have been stolen.
Beyond the recovery of stolen vehicles, officials seized narcotics, a .22-caliber pistol, and a quantity of ammunition from the premises. “Deputies located the travel trailer, golf cart, and two additional stolen vehicles,” shared the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, underscoring the breadth of criminal activity being tackled. Bannister was promptly taken into custody at the Lake Elsinore station and faced a spectrum of charges, including possession of a stolen vehicle and several firearm and narcotics-related offenses, showcasing the often-interlinked nature of property crimes and drug violations…