Watsonville Police On Overnight Patrol Nab Alleged Auto Thief

WATSONVILLE - A Watsonville police officer on patrol Tuesday night arrested a man driving a stolen vehicle after a routine traffic stop.

According to Watsonville police, an officer on patrol in the downtown area observed a vehicle driving without its lights at night. The officer followed the vehicle into a nearby parking lot and say they stopped the driver, Leonardo Lopez, as he tried to get out of the vehicle.

Police say after a records check, the vehicle Lopez was driving was confirmed to be stolen from a Watsonville resident.

Lopez was charged with vehicle theft, possession of burglary tools, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police.

Watsonville police say overall they had a successful night, as night shift officers were able to locate and recover a total of four stolen vehicles Tuesday night.

Police say these vehicles were recently stolen from Watsonville residents and returned to their owners.

-images via Watsonville police