A homeless man with a knife allegedly tried to break into a Riverside County Fire Department engine parked outside a Moreno Valley grocery store Monday, prompting firefighters to request help from sheriff’s deputies before the suspect fled.
The attempted break-in was reported at 11:15 in the parking lot of the Stater Bros. Markets store in the 11800 block of Pigeon Pass Road, near Ironwood Avenue.
A fire captain at the scene said crew members encountered the suspect, who was armed with a knife, trying to force his way into a compartment on the engine.
Firefighters said they avoided contact with the suspect and requested immediate assistance from deputies. However, before sheriff’s personnel reached the location, the suspect fled and remains at large.
No injuries were reported.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the fire engine was damaged.
The suspect was described as Black, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, thinly built, wearing a black coat, black jean shorts and dark-colored shoes, carrying a black backpack.