CLEARLAKE – Clearlake Police have arrested a woman in connection with passing thousands of dollars in bad checks and burglary, and have found possible links other local crimes as well.

Rachael Shirlly Calderon-Lopez (AKA Okeefe), 22, was arrested Friday, according to a report issued by Lt. Mike Hermann of the Clearlake Police Department.

At 2:20 p.m. Friday Clearlake Police Det. Richard Towle served a search warrant in the 7100 block of Old Highway 53 that led to Calderon-Lopez's arrest, Hermann reported.

Calderon-Lopez was arrested in connection with a series of insufficient fund checks totaling more than $2,300 that she had been passing at local businesses, according to Hermann's report.

In addition to the evidence found during the search, Calderon’s image was captured on digital surveillance cameras while she was passing some of the bad checks. Once arrested Calderon-Lopez is reported to have admitted to the crimes.

Calderon-Lopez was booked into the Lake County Jail for felony insufficient funds and first-degree burglary, because she entered the business where she was taped passing a bad check with the intent to commit a crime.

While serving the search warrants Hermann reported that Towle also found other items of interest that may link Calderon to other crimes.

Business owners should ensure that all checks accepted are from persons with valid identification and that the information is added to the face of the check at the time of transaction, Hermann reported.

Hermann encouraged any businesses or private parties wishing to learn more about ways to protect themselves from false or fictitious checks to contact the Clearlake Police Department for information and tips.

The investigation is still ongoing and all businesses should check to make sure that they have not received any of the insufficient fund checks from Calderon and if they have, to contact Det. Towle as soon as possible at 707-994-8251.

Calderon-Lopez remained in Lake County Jail on $20,000 bond Friday night.

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