San Mateo County Man Arrested for Alleged Possession of Stolen Vehicle, Evading
A man was recently arrested for the alleged possession of a stolen vehicle following a high-speed pursuit that began in downtown San Mateo.
According to a press release by the San Mateo Police Department, the suspect was identified as Jefferson Hernandez.
Police say they were alerted to a stolen vehicle that had been sighted in the area of East Poplar Avenue and North Amphlett Boulevard at around 1:30 AM on Wednesday, March 29. Despite an initial search of the area, the vehicle could not be located. However, officers later learned that the vehicle had been traveling southbound on US-101, and they were able to locate the suspect vehicle near Holly Road.
Upon attempting to stop the vehicle, the suspect refused to yield, leading to a high-speed chase down US-101. The pursuit finally came to an end on the right shoulder of the freeway near University Drive, where the suspect was safely detained along with three other occupants of the vehicle, police said.
During the detention, officers contacted the driver of another vehicle who had fallen asleep at the wheel of his car during a traffic break on US-101. The driver was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Hernandez was booked into San Mateo County jail on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless evading, and hit-and-run, police said.
In light of this incident, the San Mateo Police Department has issued some tips to help the public protect their vehicles from theft. These include locking your car at all times, not leaving valuables in plain sight, and parking in well-lit areas.
Other recommendations for added vehicle security include audible and visible devices. Audible devices such as horn alarms, or visible devices such as steering wheel locks and flashing lights can also help deter theft.
The San Mateo Police Department also urged the public to report any suspicious activity they observe, such as individuals trying to break into parked cars or tampering with vehicles.
