Gilroy Couple Tests Drives Car, Never Returns

The Gilroy Police and CHP collaborated to catch a couple that stole a car from a dealership in Gilroy earlier this week.

On Feb. 26, Bianca Garcia, 21, and Juan Ortiz, 32, entered South Bay Auto Sales on Monterey Street and asked to test drive a 2005 Chrysler Sebring. They claimed hey had the down payment for the car on hand, Sgt. Pedro Espinoza said.

Garcia and Ortiz opted to steal the car rather than return it or buy it, leading the dealership to call the police.

Around 6:30 p.m., an employee of the dealership spotted the couple in the car and alerted CHP, who pulled over the auto-thieving duo.

According to CHP Officer Erica Elias, Garcia, the driver, was charged with stealing a vehicle, possession of stolen property and driving without a license.

Garcia was able to dupe the dealership into thinking she was licensed by showing them a California ID card, which they mistook for a driver's license.

Ortiz, the passenger, was charged with possession of stolen property. Garcia and Ortiz, both Gilroy residents, were taken to Santa Clara County Jail.