GRANITE BAY, Calif. — Two people on an FBI terrorist watch list were arrested after an attempted robbery in Granite Bay, according to the Placer County Sheriff's Office. Now, residents say they're scared.
The robbery happened Nov. 10 around 7:10 p.m. when Granite Bay residents reported two masked people trying to break into their house. When deputies arrived, the two masked people left the area in a black Mercedes SUV at high speeds.
A helicopter tracked the car into Sacramento County near Gerber Road and Power Inn Road where the people hit a sign. The two people left the vehicle but were later found and taken into custody.
Placido Lopez-Vargas, 27, and Angel Emmanuel, 23, were arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary, felony evading arrest and conspiracy.
The sheriff's office said through the investigation they connected Lopez-Vargas and Emmanuel to a South American Theft Group and both of them were on an FBI terrorist watch list for being involved in transnational organized crime.
Carrie Hartmann has lived in Granite Bay for the last 25 years and has enjoyed the peaceful life, but what happened last week was anything but peaceful.
"Why did they choose this area? I don't know. I have asked myself that. Why did they choose this area," wondered Hartmann.
Even with the sense of peace she's felt in this neighborhood for so many years, the recent crimes have made her reconsider what she's doing to keep her and her family safe.
"When it is close to home, you do feel a little bit of more caution in what you do and locking this and locking that," said Hartmann.
She says she's thankful no one was hurt and hopes it stays that way.
"As I get older, it's like, if you want it, you can have it... just don't hurt us," she said.
The sheriff's office said five people have been arrested in known transnational theft operations over the last year. About 20 burglaries, consistent with South American Theft Group methods, have happened in Placer County where more than a million dollars of property was stolen.
The sheriff's office adds they are investigating crimes that could be linked to this group and they move all over the state with no home base.
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