Police Blotter: Thieves Caught Dismantling Hot Car

Four Watsonville men allegedly stole a car parked in front of the driveway of a Watsonville home, then started dismantling the vehicle for parts in front of their own house, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The car was stolen Tuesday evening. CHP officers took a report but, a short time later, an officer spotted the swiped car parked in the driveway at 8 Stewart Ave., off of Green Valley Road, according to CHP officer Sarah Jackson.

The men—Javier Madrigal-Pineda, 22, Edgar Guadalupe Rubio-Zavala, 21, Pedro Villanueva, 19, and Raul Zamora, 20—were allegedly piecing out the car. Zavala had the car keys and Villanueva had personal belongings from the vehicle, Jackson reported.

All four were arrested around 10:15 p.m. on suspicion of vehicle theft and possessing a stolen vehicle. Villanueva was also booked for possessing stolen property, the CHP reported.

Madrigal-Pineda lives at the house; Zamora lives over on Green Valley Road; Rubio-Zavala listed an address on Lincoln Street and Villanueva lives on Doering Lane, according to the CHP.

Watsonville Police Log, Wednesday, Feb. 22

1:28 a.m.—A car burglar broke a passenger window on a vehicle and stole items. The vehicle was parked on the 100 block of Riverside and the theft happened in the prior four hours.

1:32 a.m.—A 28-year-old man got a ticket for having a methamphetamine pipe on Alvarado and Madison streets.

10:51 a.m.—A thief walked into a cell phone store to activate a phone, but removed an alarm sensor from a display phone, slipped it into his pocket and walked away. The theft happened on the 1400 block of Main Street.

1:21 p.m.—A vandal keyed a car parked on the 300 block of Rodriguez Street.

Tuesday, Feb. 21

7:33 a.m.—A vehicle was stolen from a carport on the 100 block of Holm Road.

9:35 a.m.—A vandal keyed a car parked on the 500 block of Rodriguez Street.

9:59 a.m.—A vandal used a crayon to scrawl graffiti on a bench on the 100 block of Lawrence Avenue.

10:28 a.m.—A 20-year-old woman was arrested for possessing drugs, drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest and destroying evidence. She was arrested when officers were called to a disturbance at 475 Rodriguez St.

10:48 a.m.—A thief stole a paper bag from a shopping cart that had more tahn $950 cash in it. Officers have information about a possible suspect. The theft happened on the 1000 block of Main Street.

8:48 p.m.—A vandal scratched all the doors and panels, and slashed two tires on a vehicle parked on Marchant and Bockius streets.

9:12 p.m.—A man was arrested for being high on drugs. He was picked up on Union Street and Maple Avenue.

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