Police Warn San Mateo Residents Of Vehicle Theft; Man Charged

SAN MATEO, CA — San Mateo police are cautioning residents to be wary of potential car thefts after a man was arrested in connection with a stolen vehicle.

Officers were notified around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday of the stolen vehicle near Hillside Boulevard and Saratoga Drive, police said. Authorities found the vehicle behind a building in the 2600 block of El Camino Real and detained the driver, identified as Tenzin Rinchen, according to police.

Rinchen, 24, of San Mateo, had a no-bail warrant from San Mateo County for violating supervised release, police said. He was booked into county jail on charges of vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle and vehicle theft with a prior, according to police.

Drivers are encouraged to protect their vehicles with equipment such as a horn alarm, steering wheel locks, flashing lights, immobilizing devices and vehicle recovery systems, according to police. Drivers should also never leave a key in a vehicle, should lock all windows and doors when parking, should park in well-lit areas within view of a security camera, and should never leave valuables in a vehicle.

Some of the most popular parts or items stolen from vehicles include doors, lift gates, engines, transmissions, catalytic converters, airbags, radios, GPS units, cellphones, iPads, laptops and purses.

For more tips, visit www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/vehicle-theft-prevention.