Car theft suspect spotted on own camera
A Half Moon Bay man was arrested after his own home’s security footage captured him stealing over $4,000 worth of jewelry and driving away with his neighbor’s Mitsubishi, authorities said.
Suspect Miguel Angel Reyes-Avila, 23, has lived on Golden Gate Avenue in Half Moon Bay for a number of years, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. On the morning of Oct. 6, he allegedly waited until his neighbors had left their house with their dog before sneaking in through a bedroom window that was left ajar.
Once inside the home, Reyes-Avila gathered up about $4,050 worth of jewelry, authorities say, along with the keys to the 2009 Mitsubishi. After squeezing out the same window, he allegedly left for about an hour and then came back to steal the car.
The neighbors returned home about 3 p.m. to an empty spot in the driveway. When sheriff’s deputies responded to the house, they began asking neighbors if anyone would be willing to share home security footage to help their search.
At least one neighbor said yes. The woman had seen the deputies arriving and happily offered up her Nest camera’s footage — captured from Reyes-Avila’s own home, where she is also a resident.
Within a few days, authorities reviewed the footage and identified ReyesAvila from previous run-ins, said Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Rosemerry Blankswade. He was arrested Oct. 10 and arraigned the following day on two felony burglary and grand theft auto charges.
It’s not clear whether the woman who shared the footage was Reyes-Avila’s roommate or landlord, Blankswade said, but she is not a relative. The woman reportedly told police she did not know Reyes-Avila’s last name despite having lived in the same house for some time.
In March, Reyes-Avila was sentenced to three years’ felony probation related to a 2018 felony burglary. Also in 2018, he was deferred entry of judgment following misdemeanor drug and paraphernalia possession charges.
Preliminary hearings will begin Thursday. ReyesAvila remains in custody on no bail.