The Modesto Police Department arrested a Denair woman and a Sacramento man on allegations they had been stealing items from the homes of the recently departed.

Nicole Patterson, 40, of Denair and Allen Pritchard, 38, of Sacramento were arrested for burglary, auto theft, possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle, conspiracy, and possession of a controlled substance. Pritchard had an additional charge of identity theft, said Modesto Police spokesperson Heather Graves.

The investigation began when Modesto’s Street Gang Unit spotted a stolen car being driven in the area of 10th and D streets in downtown Modesto. The car had been reported stolen Sunday during a residential burglary in Modesto, Graves said.

The officers stopped the car and detained Pritchard and Patterson. A search of the car revealed stolen property from the burglary on Sunday.

During the investigation, a search warrant was obtained for a motel room in Turlock which was registered to Pritchard and Patterson.

More of the victim’s property was located in the room, along with property from burglaries in Merced and Waterford.

“It appears the two have been targeting elderly victims and the homes of subjects who have recently passed away,” Graves said in a news release.