Alleged Burglar Flees Police, Tosses Stolen Property Onto Highway

NOVATO, CA – A man suspected of auto burglary was arrested this week after tossing stolen property onto the freeway and fleeing police, authorities said.

In response to an increase in reports of auto burglaries and thefts from vehicles near Hamilton Marketplace in Novato, police have conducted a series of surveillance operations near the marketplace and Courtyard by Marriott over the past several weeks.

Around 1 a.m. Tuesday, Novato police spotted a dark sedan with paper plates enter the parking lot of the Courtyard. A man exited the car and started looking into the windows of vehicles parked in the lot with a flashlight. According to police, he smashed the window of one of the vehicles, took a laptop computer and briefcase, and fled the area in his car.

Officers attempted to stop the suspect near the McDonald's on Nave Drive, but he did not stop and drove onto the freeway, according to police. The man, later identified as Karrell Morgan, 35, of Vallejo, drove northbound on Highway 101 at a "high rate of speed."

"Morgan threw the victim's property out of the vehicle and onto the freeway in an attempt to discard evidence of the burglary," police said.

An officer near Highway 37 and Black Point eventually caught up with the suspect and stopped the car, police said. Morgan was arrested on suspicion of auto burglary, destruction of evidence and evading the police. He was booked into Marin County Jail.

Police reminded residents to remove valuable items from their vehicles, store personal property inside the trunk and lock their vehicles.

"We will continue to be proactive in combating auto burglaries and theft," police said. "We encourage our community members to remain vigilant about protecting your property."

Image via Novato Police Department