Full Notification

WHAT: Theft of Expensive Items Using Fraudulent Credit Card and ID

WHERE: Several locations in San Luis Obispo

WHEN: January 27, 2015

SUSPECTS: #1 Heavy set white male in his 40’s with brown hair
#2 Thin white female approximately 35-45 years old with brown hair

DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Lt. Bill Proll (805)781-7369


The San Luis Obispo Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying two suspects who have been using fraudulent credit cards and identification to rent items in San Luis Obispo and not return them. They stole from at least four businesses on January 27th and the crimes are summarized below:

On January 27th a suspect, who identified himself with a California driver’s license as John Powell, rented a $500 Honda generator from the Rental Depot at 202 Tank Farm Road using a pre-paid credit card. The generator was never returned and the credit card used was determined to be fraudulent. The suspect is a White or Hispanic male in his mid to late 30’s with black hair and he was wearing hospital “scrubs’ during the theft.

On January 27th a suspect, who used the name John Powell, went into Wally’s Bicycles at 306 Higuera Street and rented a $2500 bicycle for $75 using a pre-paid credit card. The suspect wore hospital “scrubs” and stated he worked at Sierra Vista Hospital. When the bicycle was not returned, the store attempted to charge the credit card and the charge was rejected. Wally’s Bicycle store provided the police department with their video footage of the suspects and vehicle. The video shows the suspects arrived at the store driving a newer gray or silver Dodge minivan with what appears to have Cole Chrysler Dodge paper plates on the vehicle. The description of the male suspect matches the same suspect description in the thefts from the other mentioned businesses. The female suspect is described as a White or Hispanic female, between 30-40 years old with long brown hair pulled back. The couple was also with a brown dog, possibly a Labrador.

On January 27th a suspect, who identified himself as John Powell, rented a $1000 Honda generator from Arsenal Equipment Rental at 3582 S. Higuera using a fraudulent credit card and identification. The suspect’s description was identical to the person described in the theft from Wally’s Bicycles and was also wearing blue hospital “scrubs”.

Also on January 27th the suspect went to Taylor Rental at 2790 Broad Street and rented a Honda generator worth $4000 using a fraudulent credit card and identification in the name of John Powell. He was described as a white male in his 40’s wearing hospital “scrubs”. The suspect was seen driving a silver minivan and was accompanied by a white female and a dog.

The police department has been investigating these thefts since we were notified. We checked with Cole Chrysler Dodge and we do not believe the suspect’s vehicle was recently purchased from there. We also do not believe the suspect works at Sierra Vista Hospital. The California driver’s license is fraudulent and we have no other information regarding the suspects’ identity. Please contact the San Luis Obispo Police Department if you have any information about the identity or whereabouts of these suspects. Photos of both suspects and the suspect vehicle are below.