San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

In Kensington, San Diego police arrested a man suspected of motorcycle theft. The suspect allegedly stole a motorcycle and raced in south on Interstate 5 on last Tuesday night at speeds of more than 100 mph.

While investigating the motorcycle theft, an officer attempted to pull over the suspect near Poway Road. Instead, the rider sped up and swerved between lanes at an estimated speed of 90-110 mph. For safety reasons, the officer backed off.

However, a police helicopter crew followed the motorcyclist to Adams Avenue exit into Kensington. The suspect parked the motorcycle on a sidewalk before running down 39th Street. He hopped fences and dashed through yards until the police reached him at an apartment complex. Police arrested the theft suspect around 11:25pm.

Police catch motorcycle theft suspect, San Diego Union-Tribune, November 25, 2008

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San Diego Police are attempting to locate the man who stole the identity of a 76-year-old, making almost $5,000 in fraudulent purchases. The identity thief is believed to have opened a credit card account in the victim’s name at a La Mesa Wal-Mart on September 25. His purchases totaled more than $1,700, including a computer, a ring, and a 50-inch flat screen TV.

Police believe that the same man opened an account at the Mission Valley IKEA purchased $3,000 worth of merchandise. The man was captured on a surveillance-camera tape during his trip to Wal-Mart. Police describe the suspect as a Caucasian in his early 30s, medium height and build with a bleached-blond Mohawk.

Any members of the public with information on this identity theft suspect are asked to call San Diego police at 619-531-2545 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

Public's help sought in identity-theft case, San Diego Union-Tribune, November 22, 2008

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In San Diego, California, the Sheriff’s deputies are on the hunt for an inmate who was mistakenly released from a San Diego County jail.

The inmate, 50-year old Tuan Tran, also known as Kevin Nguyen, reportedly switched wristbands with another Otay Mesa jail inmate who was about to be bailed out of custody. Tran was released in the other inmate’s place in October, and the mix-up was discovered a few hours later when the other inmate’s mother called to ask about her son’s release from jail.

The Sheriff’s office says that Tran has been at large for several weeks, and he is believed to still be in the San Diego area. He was serving time for burglary and fraud; however, authorities do not believe that he is a threat. The search continues for Tran, who is described as a Vietnamese male around 5 feet 5 inches and 140 pounds.

Inmate Pulls a Switch on Jailers, Escapes, SanDiego6.com, November 18, 2008

Sheriff's Deputies Hunt Prison Escapee, 10News.com, November 17, 2008

Inmate mistakenly released from San Diego jail, MercuryNews.com, October 31, 2008

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Posted In: San Diego Crime , Theft

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San Diego sheriff’s officials say that three people are suspected in 24 residential, commercial break-ins and about 50 motor vehicle break-ins in San Diego County. The burglary ring is known as “Tats in Hats” because of their tattoos and the hats they wear to disguise their faces.

The trio believed to be involved in the burglary ring has resurfaced in Howell, Michigan. Police there say that Robert Alan Keyes, 32, of California, broke into cars parked outside a school in early October. Keyes and two co-defendants allegedly used stolen credit cards at area hotels, pharmacies, and gas stations.

Keyes waived his preliminary exam last week, sending to circuit charges that he stole personal items from cars in the area. He is charged with larceny from a building, breaking and entering to steal property, and two counts of stealing a financial transaction device.

California man, two others charged in Genoa Township auto break-ins, Lansing State Journal, November 6, 2008

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Even more entertaining than reading about a celebrity crime is reading the lame excuses that celebrities give after they get busted. truTV rounded up some doozies. Here are a few of our faves.

Shelley Morrison, famous of playing Karen’s straight-talking maid Rosario on “Will & Grace,” was caught stealing jewelry from a department store. According to Morrison, “sometimes the mind has a mini earthquake.” Minor earthquake? We’re curious what constitutes a major earthquake of the mind.

When film actress Winona Ryder was caught stealing $5,560 worth of goods from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills, California, she tried a different tactic. After denying her role in the store theft, she later claimed, “my director directed me to shoplift for a role I was preparing.” Hmm… a likely story.

Police found Gary Dourdan, former star of “CSI,” asleep at the wheel of his car after the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California. When questioned about the cocaine, ecstasy, and heroin discovered in his car, Dourdan said the drugs weren’t his. One would think that someone who appeared on a TV crime investigator show would know better…

Lamest Celebrity Excuses, truTV.com

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Posted In: Drug Crimes , Theft

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The San Diego Union-Tribune recently reported on a burglary in La Mesa, California. Police arrested a 20-year-old suspect and distributed photos of a second burglary suspect who escaped during a police chase. They have identified the second burglary suspect as Michael Eugene Perez, also 20, of San Diego.

The robbery occurred at a residence on Wellesley Street East around mid-day last Friday. A man called the police from his garage saying there were burglars in his home. Minutes later the police arrived and confronted a man who was leaving out of the rear door of the La Mesa home. Police spotted a second man on the side of the house. Both men fled the scene.

Police arrested one suspect in the Strawberry Hill condominium complex on Baltimore Drive. He was booked on suspicion of burglary, grand theft, vandalism, and resisting arrest.

One arrested in La Mesa burglary; one sought, SignonSanDiego.com, September 12, 2008

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For the past three years, Secret Service agents based in San Diego, California have been using the Internet to communicate with identity thieves. Last month, they managed close in on what federal officials are calling the largest identity-theft ring ever busted.

Local United States Attorney Karen Hewitt said that the investigation started locally in San Diego and spread across the country, then around the world. Three U.S. citizens are charged, as well as citizens from Estonia, Belarus, China, and the Ukraine.

The financial scope of this massive theft ring is still unknown; however, officials estimate that over 40 million credit and debit card numbers were stolen from some of the country’s most popular retail chains, including BJ’s Wholesale Club and OfficeMax.

Thieve stole some of the debit and credit card information online and used some of the cards themselves. One of the websites operated by the ID theft ring also advertised child pornography, counterfeit cash, and passports and money laundering. Eight people in San Diego are charged with selling the stolen card numbers online.

S.D. agents help bust massive ID-theft ring, SignOnSanDiego.com, August 6, 2008

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