Full Notification

 

Petaluma Police Department NEWS RELEASE

                                                                                                                                                           
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release                                                                                                   Monday January 22, 2018
Issued By:
Sergeant Lance Novello, Petaluma PD, (707) 778-4372, lnovello@ci.petaluma.ca.us    
Incident:        Reckless Evasion, Vehicle Theft with Priors, Possess Burglary Tools, Possess Controlled Substance, Warrants
Additional:           2800.2(a) VC, 10851(e) VC, 666.5(a) PC, 496d(a) PC, 466 PC, 11350 HS
Report Number:  18-0366
Occurred Date:    January 22, 2018
Occurred Time:    7:07 AM
Location:              400 block Stuart Drive
Suspect(s):           Robert Moore, 27 year old Petaluma resident
   
On January 22, 2018, around 7:07 AM, a Petaluma resident reported their vehicle being stolen as it was warming up in their driveway.  Shortly thereafter, a Petaluma PD officer saw the vehicle on the Ely Boulevard South extension, at which point, the vehicle immediately fled.  A pursuit was initiated, and the suspect drove at high speeds through residential neighborhoods before parking the vehicle and fleeing on foot through an elementary school. 
 
The suspect was then spotted by another Petaluma PD officer as he was walking away from the school.  Officers contacted Robert Moore, who is a prolific Petaluma criminal, and found him in possession of the victim’s property, burglary tools, controlled substance and associated paraphernalia.  He was also found to have several arrest warrants and prior convictions for vehicle theft.  He was arrested pursuant to the aforementioned offenses, as well as reckless evasion, and booked into the Sonoma County Jail.
 
“Warm up” vehicle thefts generally increase during the winter months due to vehicles being unattended while warming up in driveways or streets.  If your vehicle must be warmed prior to operation, Petaluma PD encourages steps be taken to prevent a potential theft.  These steps include locking the vehicle, remaining with the vehicle or at least within sight, and, in a case of frost, covering the vehicle’s windows.