Loaded Guns, Stolen Car Found During Attempted Retail Burglary In Marin County

CORTE MADERA, CA — Officers arrested a 37-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy after they were caught attempting to break into a retail store early Saturday morning.

Just after midnight on Friday, Central Marin Police Department officers said they responded to a report of an active burglary on the 1800 block of Redwood Highway in Corte Madera.

A security guard had noticed two people, later identified as Clarence Stimpson of Hayward and a 15-year-old boy from Fremont, attempting to break the glass of a retail store, police said.

Officers said they arrived quickly to the scene and found a grey sedan with the engine running, sitting in the fire lane near the store.

Officers encountered the two suspects near the store. Both were wearing hoods, masks and sunglasses, police said.

Officers said they detained the two suspects and one of them attempted to flee.

Surveillance footage confirmed they were the ones who tried to break into the store and they were associated with the getaway car, police said.

Officers searched the car, which they learned was stolen, and found two loaded semi-automatic handguns and two large capacity magazines.

Stimpson was arrested and booked into the Main County Jail for attempted burglary, conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a gun, being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, resisting arrest, possession of large-capacity magazines and possession of a stolen vehicle, police said.

The teen was booked into the Marin County Juvenile Hall on charges of attempted burglary, conspiracy, and wearing a mask in the commission of a crime, police said.

Officers said they returned the car to its owner.

"Central Marin Police patrol officers and detectives are continuing to investigate the vehicle and suspects in connection with additional crimes that may have been committed within our jurisdiction," police said.