Persons engaged in daylight theft ought not to call attention to themselves. Three men appear to have violated this “rule” by traveling in a gold Mercedes Benz while they carried out a series of thefts of catalytic converters in Cloverdale.
The alleged crimes
Several persons in Cloverdale notified police of the Mercedes’ presence in their neighborhood on the same afternoon. These individuals also told police that occupants of the gold car appeared to be “tampering” with parked vehicles.
Police located the vehicle and proceeded to execute a traffic stop. Police found three men in the vehicle. All were residents of Richmond. As officers inspected the contents of the vehicle, they found a number of tools associated with burglary and the theft of catalytic converters.
Police photos from the scene show a number of items recovered from the vehicle, including shaved ignition keys, multiple saws, a floor jack, four used catalytic converters, various controlled substances, drug paraphernalia and a tool used for prying open automobile windows.
The three suspects were detained by police and incarcerated in the Sonoma County Jail. They were charged with felonies and misdemeanors, including conspiracy to commit theft, possession of burglary tools, theft, possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
Solid legal counsel from a criminal defense attorney
The suspects in this case are facing serious criminal charges. Despite the constitutional presumption of innocence, a conviction on any of the felony charges could mean significant prison time and a hefty fine. Anyone facing similar charges may benefit from a consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney who can evaluate the evidence, suggest potential defense strategies, and, if appropriate, help negotiate an acceptable plea agreement.