By Gina Yarbrough
San Marcos, CA–Three people were arrested October 8 after Sheriff’s deputies used an automated license plate recognition system to locate a vehicle linked to a retail theft investigation in San Marcos, authorities said.
Deputies received an alert from the Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) camera system at 8:30 p.m. regarding a vehicle associated with a grand theft investigation.
When deputies arrived on scene, they located the vehicle in a parking lot in the 500 block of West San Marcos Boulevard and detained Praharsha Pasumarthi, 27, Summer Olney, 23, and Lora Smith, 40.
During the investigation, deputies determined the suspects had allegedly stolen nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise from a nearby grocery store. The stolen merchandise was recovered from inside the vehicle, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
All three suspects were arrested on suspicion of grand theft and conspiracy to commit theft and booked into the Vista Detention Facility.
The Sheriff’s Office said its ALPR camera system remains an important public safety tool, helping deputies locate vehicles associated with criminal activity and identify and apprehend suspects.
