Danville Police Nab Suspected Thief Using ALPR Technology

DANVILLE, CA — A 26-year-old Bay Point man is facing multiple charges after he was found to be in possession of a stolen vehicle and other items Thursday morning, Danville Police Chief Allan Shields reported. And it was the Town's Automated License Plate Reader system that triggered the arrest, according to the chief.

At 6:10 a.m., Danville officers responded to the area of Sycamore Valley Road and I-680 after receiving a notification from the Town’s ALPR system of a stolen vehicle passing by one of the system's cameras, Shields said. The white 2018 Honda Accord was reported stolen out of San Ramon on Sept. 10.

Officers tracked down the car at the Black Bear Diner parking lot, 807 Camino Ramon. Arba Sullivan was behind the wheel and was found with other stolen items, including backpacks, mail and personal identifying information belonging to local residents, Shields said. He was also in possession of burglary tools, two Airsoft weapons (a rifle and pistol), and a BB gun in the car's passenger compartment; both Airsoft guns had their orange tips and other markings removed, Shields continued.

Sullivan was taken into custody and transported to Martinez Detention Facility on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, identity theft, burglary and possession of burglary tools.

Shields said he was pleased with the arrest — and the assistance of the ALPR system.

“This was a situation where having the technological assistance of the ALPR allowed our officers to pinpoint their search for this stolen vehicle, recover that vehicle, and take a criminal into custody," the chief said.