Crime & Safety

Santa Cruz Theft Team Seeking 2 Suspected in Several Stolen Vehicles

The pair -- a white man in a black hoodie and a woman in tie-dyed pants and Ugg boots -- are allegedly behind the most recent Jeep theft in Watsonville.

Police in Watsonville are asking the public's help in locating one or two suspects they believe may be involved in a string of vehicle thefts in Santa Cruz and North Monterey counties.

In the latest incident, police said that on Friday at about 10:45 a.m., a 1999 Jeep Cherokee was reported stolen from a Watsonville business near the intersection of Freedom Boulevard and Green Valley Road.

The owner of the vehicle witnessed the theft and followed the suspect to a mobile home park located at 501 Green Valley Rd., according to police. Police said the victim confronted the suspect, and was dragged with the Jeep for a short distance, causing minor injuries.

The suspect or suspects fled on foot and have not been identified. The Jeep was later found at Hope Park in Watsonville. Police said it appeared the Jeep had driven through two fences before landing in the creek below.

Police said the Jeep's owner described one suspect as a white man in his early 20s, approximately 5-foot, 9-inches tall with a thin build and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.

There may have also been a second suspect, described as a woman in her early 20s with light brown or blonde hair, wearing a jean vest, tie-dyed pants and Ugg-style boots.

The Santa Cruz Auto Theft Reduction Enforcement team believes these suspects may be connected with a string of vehicle thefts in the area.

Police are asking anyone with information about these thefts to contact them at (831) 768-3300 or the tip line at (831) 465-7433.

--Bay City News


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