Full Notification

On 12/16/15 at approx. 1633 hours, a citizen saw a suspicious green 1994 Chevy S10 pickup truck parked in front of her residence with two subjects inside opening packages. When the subjects saw the citizen looking at them, they quickly drove away. The citizen obtained the license plate of this Chevy pickup truck and called the Walnut Creek Police Department. As Walnut Creek PD officers were responding to the area of Lakewood Circle, they located this green Chevy leaving the area and made a traffic stop. Officers contacted Craig Lancaster and Shawna Byars who were found to be in possession of stolen packages taken from the front porch areas of four separate residences in Walnut Creek and unincorporated Walnut Creek. Both were also in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Lancaster and Byars where both arrested for possession of burglary tools, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. They were transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Due to an alert citizen identifying suspicious activity in her neighborhood, this citizen recovered packages (gifts) for four Walnut Creek families, and assisted the Walnut Creek Police Department in apprehending two thieves.

During the holiday season, package theft from porches and mail theft are on the rise. Be alert and report suspicious activity to your local police department.

Happy Holidays from the Walnut Creek Police Department.