Crime & Safety
Bust Nets 5 Suspects For Stolen Vehicles, Catalytic Converters & IDs
The arrests followed an East County traffic stop of a vehicle previously reported stolen, deputies said.
EL CAJON, CA — Five people were arrested over the weekend in East County in connection with stolen vehicles, stolen converter thefts, fake currency, identity theft, fake currency and drug possession —following a traffic stop of an SUV reportedly swiped in December, according to authorities.
Early Saturday morning near Greenfield Drive and Winrow Road in an unincorporated area of El Cajon, deputies from the Lakeside Sheriff's Substation spotted and stopped a Subaru Outback that was reported stolen by a San Diego resident Dec. 29, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said.
Three suspects were arrested, and a search warrant was executed at a nearby home where the trio was staying, officials said.
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The warrant search at the residence, on the 1200 block of North 1st Street, led to the arrest of two additional suspects, along with the discovery of such items as an allegedly stolen motorcycle, identity theft information, "freshly cut" catalytic converters, stolen tools, counterfeit currency, methamphetamine and stolen mail, deputies said.
Suspects arrested in connection with the SUV theft were: David Hansen, 31; Camaron McNeiece, 21; and Jacob Cuadras, 41.
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Arrested at the residence for suspicion of theft were: Gerald Thorpe32; and Maegan Hobbs, 28.
Detectives are continuing their investigation into the case, along with working to identify the theft victims, the agency said.
The department also reminded the community to lock vehicles, safeguard identifying information and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
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