GPS leads TCSO to stolen property, arrests
A man and woman were arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property on Sunday in Tulare, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office reported.
A man and woman were arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property on Sunday in Tulare, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Due to recent thefts at a shop located in the 2500 block of Prosperity Avenue in Tulare, investigators with the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office deployed bait equipment on the property. These items were fitted with GPS tracking devices. Investigators also solicited the assistance from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Ag Crimes Investigations Unit. Smartwater CSI was issued to the victim and deployed on the property.
On Sunday, TCSO Visalia Substation patrol personnel responded to the Prosperity Avenue location in regards to a report of a burglary. Upon arrival, they located evidence indicating someone entered a metal shop by peeling back the metal siding. At that point, it was determined the suspects fled the area with a Thermal Dynamics plasma cutter and a Honda generator. The estimated loss was determined to have been approximately $3,300. Due to the surveillance measures in place, deputies contacted detectives and investigators to continue the investigation.
Upon their arrival, investigators were able to access the GPS location of the generator and found it to be actively moving through the city of Tulare. Sheriff’s deputies, detectives, DA investigators and Tulare Police Department personnel located the suspect vehicle and, after a short pursuit, were able to apprehend two suspects. Andrew Sanchez fled the vehicle in an attempt to flee on foot, but was caught a short distance from the vehicle. Jennifer Hooper was determined to have been the driver of the vehicle and was also taken into custody. Both were booked into the Tulare County Adult Pre Trail Facility on multiple charges.
As detectives and investigators continued their investigation, they located the plasma cutter and generator stolen by the suspects. Detectives found the plasma cutter to be marked with Smartwater CSI’S forensic coding solution. The plasma cutter was seized as evidence and will be submitted to the Smartwater laboratory for testing.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Det. R. Gunderman, Investigator Gilbert or Sgt. Rhyman with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Ag Crimes Investigations Unit at 802-9563. They can also call 24 hours a day at 733-6218 or anonymously, by accessing the Tipnow page at tcso@tipnow.com.