MARTINEZ – An eyewitness followed a getaway car fleeing from a smash and grab burglary of another vehicle and provided a police dispatcher with location updates—until responding officers could arrive, pull over, and arrest two suspects on June 12.
While officers were speaking with the victim of the vehicle burglary near the Rite Aid Pharmacy located at 1165 Arnold Drive, a local resident called the Martinez Police Department to report witnessing the break-in, and informed the police dispatcher that he/she was pursuing the getaway car.
The witness told police that a man smashed a vehicle window, and stole a briefcase, before jumping into a getaway car being driven by a woman. The victim’s briefcase contained a laptop computer.
While following the suspects, the witness kept updating the dispatcher on the location of the getaway car, when it turned on to Highway 4, and when it merged on to Interstate 80, where responding officers finally caught up with them, and pulled over the getaway car at the off-ramp to Pinole Valley Road.
Officers arrested the driver, Danielle Mowers, 39, and her passenger Victor Hernandez, 24, without incident. Both are in custody accused of violating prior probation, ineligible for bail.
Mowers is charged with identity theft. She’s being housed at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond.
Hernandez is staying at the Martinez Detention Facility, charged with possession of stolen property, and vehicle burglary.
