Four people arrested in car theft ring

By MARY CALLAHAN



Published: Friday, April 17, 2009 at 9:26 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, April 17, 2009 at 9:26 a.m.

Petaluma Police say authorities have recovered 10 stolen vehicles and arrested four people in connection with a suspected Richmond vehicle theft ring.

The recoveries stemmed from an investigation begun Wednesday morning after a civilian reported a suspicious woman sitting in a car on Baywood Drive in east Petaluma, police said.

Responding officers detained the woman, Rebecca Meyers, 24, as well as another woman, Caroline Alonso, 25, who was walking nearby.

Police interviewed the women, both Richmond residents, and, based on their statements, arrested them for alleged vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of burglary tools, authorities said.

The Sonoma County Auto Theft Task Force was pulled into the investigation, during which it was discovered that several other vehicles had been stolen in Petaluma and Sonoma, police said.

Two Richmond men, Jose Olivas, 37, and Jesus Reyes, 27, were identified as suspects in the case.

They were spotted in Sonoma on Thursday morning with an allegedly stolen vehicle but ran from the area on foot, only to be apprehended after a search of the area, police said.

They were arrested on the same charges as the women, in addition to driving without licenses, jail personnel said.

Alonso has posted bond and bailed out of the Sonoma County Jail since her arrest, but the other three remain incarcerated without bail, jail personnel said.

Meyers is being held for violation of probation, while Reyes and Olivas have immigration holds, jail personnel said.

The case remains under investigation, police said

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