Authorities arrested two men suspected in a string of Los Altos auto burglaries after they crashed an allegedly stolen SUV in Sunnyvale on Tuesday morning.
The men stole the 1995 Chevrolet Trailblazer from the 300 block of Almond Avenue in Los Altos and crashed it in the yard of a Sunnyvale home at about 5 a.m., said Los Altos police Capt. Andy Galea.
According to Galea, Sunnyvale police arrested two of the three people who ran from the Trailblazer: Jose Ribas, 18, and Abel Menera, 19, both of Mountain View. Police weren’t pursuing the SUV when it crashed, Galea said.
Inside the SUV, police found items stolen from at least four vehicles in Los Altos, including cash and a GPS unit, Galea said.
“They were able to ultimately link the thefts, the property, and our suspects as being involved in all of these cases,” he said.
The thieves targeted cars parked on Hillview Avenue, Los Ninos Way and Sunkist Court.
“We’re still having people come in and report (vehicle crimes that could be related), so any other residents that may have had their cars either broken into or things removed, we’re obviously asking them to contact us,” Galea said.
Ribas and Menera were both arrested on suspicion of auto theft, conspiracy, possession of stolen property and resisting arrest, Galea said.
Police are still searching for the third man who fled from the SUV. Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to call the Los Altos Police Department at 650-947-2770.
Email Diana Samuels at dsamuels@dailynewsgroup.com.
