Police arrested four suspects who have allegedly been running an
auto burglary ring and are connected to at least three separate
crimes in recent weeks.
Police arrested four suspects who have allegedly been running an auto burglary ring and are connected to at least three separate crimes in recent weeks.
Three of the suspects were caught in the act of trying to break into another vehicle early Saturday morning, Morgan Hill police Sgt. Shane Palsgrove said.
About 1:24 a.m. Saturday, officer Ken Howard was patrolling the neighborhood in the area of Monterey Road and Central Avenue when he saw four suspicious people running away.
He followed them, and a witness flagged him down and said four people had just tried to break into his vehicle, Palsgrove said. More officers arrived to the area and caught up to three of the suspects.
Rayel Surber, 19, Angelica Martinez, 18, and Rafael Anaya, 18, all of Morgan Hill, were arrested on suspicion of auto burglary, Palsgrove said. Another officer found the fourth suspect – Robert Jaime, 19 – the following night on Monterey Road at Fourth Street.
Upon further investigation, police found stolen items from three previous auto burglaries in the suspects’ possession, Palsgrove added.
“These arrests are a great example of citizens assisting the Morgan Hill police in combating crime in our neighborhoods,” Palsgrove said. “We encourage the citizens of Morgan Hill to continue helping us fight crime by reporting any suspicious persons or activity.”
Police added that residents should not leave valuable items in their parked vehicles, or at least hide them out of the view of possible passersby. Furthermore, motorists should close their car windows and lock the doors when vehicles are unattended.
Anyone who has more information about these crimes or thinks they might be a victim may call Morgan Hill police at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous line at (408) 947-7867.
