On December 27, 2017 at approximately 12:30 p.m., a Sonoma County Sheriff’s detective noticed a man looking into parked cars in the Santa Rosa Costco parking lot. The man, later identified as Vincent Rathe, 29, of San Francisco, then went into Costco. The detectives from the Property Narcotics Unit conducted surveillance and saw Rathe walk out of Costco about 15 minutes later. He was obviously hiding something under his shirt and walked to a car. The hidden item was a compact portable jumper box later discovered to be stolen from Costco.
The detectives kept watching Rathe and recognized him from prior contacts. They contacted Rathe at his car, where a woman was sitting in the passenger seat. Rathe and the woman, Michele Peacock, 35, of the Santa Rosa/Windsor area, were both on probation and subject to warrantless search. During a search of the car, detectives found a variety of items suspected to be stolen property. The property included several power tools, clothing, wine, and a watch. Detectives learned during their investigation that all the tools were connected to a recent burglary in Windsor with an estimated value of $3,000.
Rathe was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail on a felony possession of stolen property and felony violation of probation. He’s being held without bail. Peacock was arrested and booked in the Sonoma County Jail on misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor violation of probation. She was released on a citation.
Prepared by: Misti Harris, Community Engagement Liaison
Media inquiries: 707-565-3941
Case No. 171227-017
