Citrus Heights—Citrus Heights Police arrested a burglar and firefighter/paramedic on Saturday, December 6, who entered homes illegally under the pretense of needing to perform smoke detector inspections.
Police responded to a call at the Sunrise Vista Mobile Home Park, located at 6525 Sunrise Boulevard in Citrus Heights, on December 5. The suspect, Craig White, 31, of Roseville told residents he needed to perform smoke and carbon monoxide detector inspections inside their homes. It was later determined he had stolen items from at least two homes.
Firefighter Craig White in his Citrus Heights booking photo.
On December 6, additional victims came forward with new information that led investigators to identify and arrest the suspect. White was confirmed to be a three-year veteran firefighter/paramedic with the Sacramento City Fire Department. He was located at a home about 10 miles away in Roseville on Ambridge Way, though his arrest record shows his home as in Napa, over 90 miles away.
White was later booked into the Sacramento County Jail on the charges of five counts of burglary and three counts of elder abuse.
“Some of these people were over the age of 65,” said Rich Wheaton of the Citrus Heights Police Department. “They were targeted specifically because of their age.”
Wheaton said White used phony claims of inspecting smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to get into homes. “At this point it looks like he was going into these homes to try and steal the prescription drugs from these elderly victims.”
Sunrise Vista resident Dennis Williams confirms this and says White talked his way into his home. “He was real concerned about getting in the bathrooms. And that’s usually where we keep our stuff.”
White, who denied a request to talk to the media, is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, December 9.
Citrus Heights Police want to stress the public to be mindful of public safety impersonators. If there is any question as to the true identity of any public safety officer, citizens are encouraged to call the police. Any further questions for the Sacramento City Fire Department should call (916) 216-0316.
