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San Luis Obispo officers nab 4 alleged thieves from the bay area

October 29, 2022

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

San Luis Obispo police officers arrested four men from the Bay Area, one of whom had an outstanding FBI warrant, after they were allegedly caught early Friday morning with tools used for stealing catalytic converters.

Shortly before 4 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop in the area of Phillips Lane and Grove Street. When the officer contacted the driver and passengers, he could see in plain view burglary tools and equipment used to remove and steal catalytic converters, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department.

The officer searched the vehicle and found a loaded 9 mm handgun. Police arrested the driver and three passengers.

Officers booked the driver, 24-year-old Kevin Carranza-Mendieta, in the SLO County Jail on a charge of possession of burglary tools. Cesar Lopez-Martinez, 25, and Daniel Zapata-Bueso, 19, were also charged with possession of burglary tools.

Police booked 26-year-old Mario Cruz-Calix in jail on charges of possession of burglary tools, possession of loaded firearm within a vehicle, possession of a concealed firearm in a public place and having a felony warrant out of San Francisco County for narcotics, as well as an FBI warrant out of San Francisco for narcotics.


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Hope the do ballistics testing on that gun. There have been a few shootings recently in the bay area(where these guys are from) of people who have confronted catalytic converter thieves. At least 2 shootings have occurred just this month, 1 of which occurred in oakland and the victim was shot and killed inside his home when he yelled at theives stealing his catalytic converter. I believe the suspects in both shootings have not been caught so it might be a good idea for police to look into that. If you notice someone stealing your catalytic converter, try to get a good description of the suspects vehicle and call the cops asap. Don’t try to stop them. Its not worth losing your life.


10

Thanks, SLO police! This officer could have easily been shot. Let’s just hope these charges stick. No one ever seems to get much jail or prison time these days.


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