By SDCN Editor
El Cajon, CA–El Cajon police recovered five stolen vehicles and arrested three adults and seven juveniles in connection with those thefts.
On October 19, around 12:45 p.m., 27-year-old Tedy Galvan Rocha of San Diego was arrested after he was found driving a stolen 2014 BMW X5. Later that evening, around 7:30 p.m., officers were alerted to a stolen 2014 Mercedes sedan. The vehicle was found and five juveniles ran from the vehicle. With the help of the Sheriff’s helicopter unit, all five juveniles were arrested. Three of the five were reported as runaways and all were released to their parents.
On October 22, around 1:45 p.m., 38-year-old National City resident Lorenzo Escoto was arrested for driving a stolen 2000 Honda CRV. Escoto has a lengthy arrest history and also had stolen mail in the vehicle.
On October 23, around 9:30 p.m., 56-year-old Ricardo Benavidez of El Cajon was arrested for driving a stolen 1994 Nissan Sentra near Jamacha and Lexington.
On October 25, around 11:45 a.m. officers found a stolen 2017 Kia Rio in the area of 1500 E Main. Two juveniles ran from the vehicle and with the help of a Sheriff’s helicopter, were later arrested. One of the juveniles, who was on probation, was booked into Juvenile Hall. The other juvenile was released to a parent.
The El Cajon Police Department recently started an automated license plate reading (ALPR) program. The ALPR cameras send a real-time crime alert to law enforcement when a stolen vehicle, or known wanted vehicle, from a state or national database, is detected.
Anyone with additional information regarding these incidents is encouraged to contact the El Cajon Police Department at (619) 579-3311. Individuals with information who wish to remain anonymous can call the Crime Stoppers tip line at (888) 580-8477.
