Behind the Badge
The Garden Grove PD is crediting vigilant neighbors with information that led to the arrests of two men suspected of stealing batteries from several recreational vehicles in a March-April spree that stretched to several other cities in Orange County and the Inland Empire.
Jesus Guzman, 36, of Brea and Moises Reyes, 27, of Moreno Valley, were arrested Thursday, May 5 driving the same black 2005 Chevy Silverado pickup that was captured on several home surveillance systems, the GGPD said in a news release Friday.
The suspects were found with cut battery cables, burglary tools and narcotics, according to the news release.
GGPD detectives said the suspects were recycling the batteries for their “core value.”
There were 18 documented thefts of RV batteries in Garden Grove alone in March and April, the news release said. The other thefts occurred in Westminster, Cypress, Anaheim and the Inland Empire.
Moises Reyes, 27, of Moreno Valley. GGPD photo
According to the GGPD, Guzman and Reyes would drive through residential neighborhoods and look for RVs in driveways. They would use large wire cutters to remove the batteries, causing significant damage and costly repairs for the vehicle owners.
A black 2005 Chevy Silverado pickup with dealer paper plates was seen in several of the thefts on home surveillance videos.
The West Garden Grove Neighborhood Watch shared the images of the suspects and the vehicle on social media page. Other cities cross-reported the information on similar webpages, which led to the suspect vehicle being identified, according to the news release.
“Our detectives could not have solved this crime trend without the assistance from vigilant neighborhood watch members,” the GGPD said in the release.
“The West Garden Grove Community Neighborhood Watch group has very active participants, and they have established a great partnership with GGPD.”
The suspects’ vehicle. GGPD photo
GGPD photo
