Two Men Arrested For Petty Theft and Prowling

Two San Jose men were arrested Wednesday for petty theft and prowling in Milpitas, police said Friday.

At 11:12 a.m. Wednesday, a Milpitas resident telephoned police to report a suspicious grey pick-up truck that drove in the area of Dolores Dr. and Mattos Dr. Police officers and detectives responded within one minute of the original call, said Milpitas Police Sergeant Kevin Corvin.

Officers located a vehicle that matched the description and saw the passenger Melota Lemafa Lasi, 22, take a car battery from a driveway on the 100 block of Lawton Drive. It was determined to be a theft after the resident was contacted.

Detectives continued to follow the vehicle and spotted the driver, George Varela Lopez, 55, stop and exit the vehicle at the 100 block of S. Temple Drive.

Lopez entered the front yard, removing a water heater and copper pipe. With the help of Lasi, they placed it in the pickup truck and drove away. The resident was contacted by police, and it was again determined to be a theft.

Both men were stopped in the area by police, and arrested on suspicion of petty theft and prowling.

Police are encouraging anyone with information about the case to call the Milpitas Police Department at (408) 586-2400.  Information can be given anonymously by calling (408) 586-2500, or via the Milpitas Police Department website