Santa Cruz Auto Theft Rate Up 24 Percent In 4 Months: Police

SANTA CRUZ - Though the rate of auto thefts in Santa Cruz rose 24 percent in four months, there is some apparent solace for victims of stolen vehicles, according to the Santa Cruz Police Department.

According to police, through the first four months of 2016, the city of Santa Cruz has seen a 24 percent increase in car thefts.

In fact, Santa Cruz police say since March 1st, 2016 - in a span of about two and half months - there have been 72 auto thefts reported.

At the same time, Santa Cruz police report there is "good news in SCPD’s recovery rate of stolen vehicles."

In the last 11 weeks, SCPD says they've recovered 57 cars reported stolen in the city of Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz police also say they found and recovered 12 additional cars that were reported stolen from outside the area.

In the past two weeks, Santa Cruz police arrested these three suspects in two suspected auto theft incidents:

Esteban Hernandez, 19 years old from Stockton

Santa Cruz police say on Wednesday, May 11 at approximately 1:00 a.m., an officer conducting extra checks in the 300 block of Ocean Street saw what was described as a suspicious vehicle.

Police say the officer checked the license plate on the vehicle and discovered it was stolen.

Police arrested 19-year-old Esteban Hernandez, a Stockton resident, for auto theft.

Police say Hernandez was wanted by San Jose police on an arrest warrant for vehicle theft dated just days ago.

Jay June, 30 years old, transient from Live Oak

On Thursday, May 4, Santa Cruz police received a report of a Nissan Pathfinder that had been stolen from a residence on the 700 block of Riverside Avenue.

The next day, on Friday, May 5th, police say the victim spotted his 1991 Nissan Pathfinder being driven on Soquel Avenue with a different license plates.

The SUV owner recognized the new roof rack installed on his Pathfinder, according to Santa Cruz police.

The man followed his Pathfinder to the Safeway store on Morrissey Blvd., police say, then called 9-1-1.

Responding officers say they found 30-year-old Jay June, a man they call a transient from Live Oak, asleep in back of the SUV.

According to Santa Cruz police, the responding officer let the suspect sleep while police kept an eye on the vehicle.

Anthony Soza, 19 years old from Santa Cruz

Officers say they contacted 19-year-old Anthony Soza, a Santa Cruz resident, after he came out of the grocery store and got into the Pathfinder.

Authorities say both Jay June and Anthony Soza were detained and arrested. According to police, the pair used a "shaved key" to drive the stolen SUV.

Officers say they learned that Soza had just been released from the Santa Cruz County Jail hours before this arrest.

SCPD Officers say they recognized June from a history of police contacts that include arrests for theft, drug possession, and drug influence.

According to Santa Cruz police, a majority of the stolen vehicles are mid-sized coupes and sedans.

Police say some of the stolen vehicles were locked at the time of theft.

According to Santa Cruz police, the thief uses a “bumper or shaved” key to access and start the car.

Police say it also appears that Honda cars are more likely to be stolen by this method than any other manufacturer.

Though the Santa Cruz police auto-theft recovery rate is good, police report the victim’s personal items and various work tools that were inside the stolen car are not always recovered with the vehicle.

Police say often, the car license plates are stolen as well.

Here are crime prevention tips from Santa Cruz police to help prevent your vehicle from being stolen:

• Always lock and secure your vehicle, even if you are only going to be away from your vehicle for a couple of minutes.

• Never leave your car running and unattended, or leave the keys in your vehicle.

• Never hide a spare key to your vehicle on or inside the vehicle.

• Park in well-lighted and highly visible areas.

• Consider installing an alarm, an ignition kill switch, a mechanical anti-theft device, or vehicle tracking system.

• If your vehicle is equipped with an alarm or anti-theft device – use it. Thieves are reluctant to steal vehicles if they know the cars can be recovered quickly. Many insurers offer discounts for the types of systems listed below.

• Do not leave valuables in plain view, such as, briefcases, purses, wallets, laptop/camera bags, gym bags, cellular phones, or any electronic items or devices. These types of items make it enticing for thieves.

• Most importantly, always report any suspicious people or vehicles to SCPD. Call 9-1-1. Often times the community reporting and calling the police is what leads to suspects being apprehended.

-images via Santa Cruz police