More Car Theft Arrests During Holiday Week

Earlier this week, the Napa Police Department released an extended report on one specific incident of an alleged car theft and police pursuit. Patch and other local media have now received several other log reports of auto theft incidents, which reinforce the Department's original statement,  "Over the course of a month, the Napa Police Department has experienced an increase in stolen vehicles in the community."

Last Friday, Dec. 21, at 12:30 p.m.,  an officer observed a Honda southbound on Collier from the Collier apartments, and ran the plate mindful of the prevalence of early 1990s Hondas reported as stolen. In fact the auto was reported stolen out of Napa on the previous day. 

The officer turned around to follow the car when the driver took off at a high rate of speed. After a short pursuit the driver lost control going from Pine to northbound Hickory, and slid to a stop. The driver got out of the car and started to flee, but the officer was in close proximity and the driver yielded to commands.

The driver was taken into custody and identified as Luis Adrian Diaz, 18, of Napa. He was found to be in possession of a small amount of suspected cocaine, a billy club and a concealed homemade stabbing instrument. Diaz, a documented gang member, was booked into Napa County Department of Corrections on charges including grand theft auto, evading a police officer, possession of controlled substance offence, and possession of a weapon, with  gang enhancements.

The Monday, Dec. 24 incident with 19 year-old Gaspar Delacruz was reported yesterday in this article. Delacruz allegedly led police on a X-mile chase shortly after 3 a.m. before being apprehended. The blue Honda Civic he was driving was discovered to be an unreported stolen vehicle from Napa. He was charged with felony reckless evading, auto theft, receiving stolen property, misdemeanor hit and run, and probation violation.

A third incident was reported on Thursday, Dec. 27, at 4:32 a.m. Officers were dispatched to the 2000 block Devonshire Dr. near Solano Ave, for a report of two teen boys seen hiding behind parked cars and walking up driveways to residences, apparently looking into the parked vehicles. Upon arrival, the officers located three juveniles and 19 year-old Anthony Rodriguez of Napa, sitting together in a parked Toyota Camry on Oxford St. near Devonshire Dr.

This vehicle was reported stolen out of Napa on Dec. 25 from the 1300 block of Spruce St. Upon a search, police found several stolen items inside the vehicle. As Rodriguez had stolen property in his possession, he was arrested and booked into Napa County Department of Corrections.

One of the juveniles, a 15 year-old female, was arrested for possession of stolen property and violation of a juvenile court order. She was booked into juvenile hall. The other two juveniles were released to family members.

The juveniles gave officers the name of another juvenile responsible for the stolen vehicle that they occupied. Later that same day, at approximately 9:41 p.m., officers contacted the juvenile reportedly responsible for the theft of the Toyota, a 16 year-old male of Napa, at the residence of another 16 year-old male juvenile in the 2600 block of First St in Napa.

Numerous stolen item were located at this residence, including the keys to a stolen VW. That vehicle was found within the parking lot of the apartment building where the juveniles were contacted. Both juveniles were taken into custody and transported to juvenile hall.

Charges of petty theft, grand theft auto, receiving stolen property and conspiracy were filed.

Most of the stolen property that was recovered is believed to be from or near the Hawthorne Village apartments on Solano Ave. Officers are still attempting to locate the victims of the recovered stolen property. Please contact Officer Curtis Madrigal with any information related to this case at 257-9223.