Crime & Safety
Richmond Woman Tied To Carjacking Suspect: Police
The case began as an attempted theft at a store and quickly escalated. Police recovered a loaded AK 47, a loaded AR 15, a hood, and gloves.
FREMONT, CA — A Richmond woman, 28-year-old Lisa Saefong, has been arrested in a store theft case that turned into a carjacking and kidnapping, Fremont Police say in a release.
Officers who responded to an attempted theft at a store saw a man being carjacked by one of the alleged theft suspects, police report. The victim was eventually able to jump out of the car as it slowed down to make a turn, but the suspect continued in the stolen vehicle, pursued by police.
Officers broke off the chase when the suspect began driving the wrong way. This all happened on Wednesday afternoon last week.
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Officers tracked the victim's cell phone, which had been left in the car. It was found in the middle of the street in the Sundale neighborhood of Fremont. The car was found abandoned on Sundale Drive near Sutter Drive.
A K9 tracking team searched the area, but the suspect was not found. Witnesses told police that the suspect was picked up by another vehicle shortly after he abandoned the car.
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Police identified the suspect as 33-year-old Joseph Fuimaono of Hayward, who already had two active felony warrants for weapons violations and felony DUI.
Officers confirmed through law enforcement channels that Fuimaono was at a residence in Oakland. At the request of Fremont Police, Oakland Police arrested Fuimaono on suspicion of carjacking, kidnapping during a carjacking, evading a police officer, and driving without due regard of public safety.
Meanwhile, Fremont Police recovered a backpack they say Fuimaono left behind in a store restroom. Inside the backpack was a loaded AK 47, a loaded AR 15, a hood and gloves.
Fremont Police also arrested two other theft suspects believed to be working with Fuimaono.
They are 28-year-old Lisa Saefong of Richmond, arrested on suspicion of burglary and vehicle theft, and 27-year-old David Correa, a transient, arrested on suspicion of identity theft, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property and three additional warrants.
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