HERITAGE RANCH, Calif. — Two suspects forced their way into a Heritage Ranch home on November 12, 2026, held the occupants at gunpoint and fled with a safe containing about $20,000 in jewelry and several firearms, and both were arrested about 40 minutes after the first report, Sheriff's officials reported.
Read the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office release: https://www.slosheriff.org/article/?id=db24428f-0402-4fbe-8dc9-146f012b72cb
The Sheriff's Office released the report on November 13, 2026, at 2:34 p.m., according to the release. The media contact listed is Tony Cipolla.
One suspect is Avyel Leyva, 18, of Merced, officials reported.
The second suspect is a 17-year-old juvenile of Gustin, according to the release. The Sheriff's Office did not release the juvenile's name.
Both suspects were taken into custody without incident, and no injuries were reported, officials reported.
The charges are allegations, and the investigation remains ongoing, according to the release.
Forced Entry, Gunpoint Threats, And A Safe Full Of Jewelry
Deputies responded on November 12, 2026, at approximately 6:00 p.m., to a report of an armed home invasion robbery in the Heritage Ranch area, according to the release.
Deputies learned that two male suspects had approached a residence and forced their way inside when the door was answered, officials reported.
Once inside, the suspects held the occupants at gunpoint and forced them to be secluded in a room while making threats against them, according to the release.
The suspects made one of the occupants retrieve a safe containing approximately $20,000 worth of jewelry, officials reported.
The suspects then fled the residence with the safe and several firearms, according to the release.
A License Plate Reader, Highway 46, And A 40-Minute Stop
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Deputies obtained a description of the suspects' vehicle, according to the release.
With the assistance of an Automated License Plate Reader system, deputies located the vehicle traveling on Highway 46 near Shandon, officials reported.
With assistance from the Paso Robles Police Department, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter, deputies located and stopped the vehicle approximately 40 minutes after the initial report, according to the release.
A search of the suspects' vehicle resulted in the recovery of the stolen property, including the jewelry and the firearms, officials reported.
Robbery Charges, A Newman Warrant, And An Ongoing Investigation
Leyva was arrested on charges of armed robbery, assault with a firearm on a person, kidnapping, criminal threats, and attempting to dissuade a witness, according to the release.
Leyva was also arrested on a warrant from the Newman Police Department for shooting at an inhabited dwelling, willful discharge of a firearm, assault with a firearm on a person, participating in a criminal street gang, and criminal threats, officials reported.
Leyva is believed to have ties to a known criminal street gang in Merced County, according to the release.
The 17-year-old juvenile was also arrested on the same charges stemming from the November 12 incident, officials reported.
Investigators believe this was an isolated incident, and there is no known ongoing threat to the public, according to the release.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no further information is available at this time, officials reported.
Anyone with information about this incident can contact the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office. The release lists Tony Cipolla as the contact at 805-781-4547.
Sources
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office, Official Press Release, November 13, 2026: https://www.slosheriff.org/article/?id=db24428f-0402-4fbe-8dc9-146f012b72cb