Full Notification

Press Release
For Immediate Release
March 20, 2019
 
Contact:                         Sergeant Tim Zins, PIO, (310) 802-5186                                       
Date of Incident:           February and March, 2019
 
Subject:                         Vehicle Burglaries                  
 
Location:                       4499 The Strand (El Porto Parking Lot)
                                       Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

In February 2019, a trend of vehicle burglaries began in the El Porto parking lot (4499 The Strand) and at the Manhattan Beach Pier parking lots (01 Manhattan Beach Blvd.).  Five vehicle burglaries occurred in these parking lots during the months of February and March, 2019.  In all of these cases, the suspect stole keys which were either left on a beach towel, on the tire, or hidden somewhere on a parked vehicle.  The suspect stole several items from the vehicles which included the victims’ wallets and credit cards.  The suspect then made several fraudulent purchases with the stolen credit cards at locations throughout the South Bay.  Manhattan Beach Police Detectives obtained video surveillance photos of a possible suspect using these stolen credit cards.  
 
On 03/16/19, MBPD Detectives and SWAT team members conducted a surveillance operation in the El Porto parking lot.  While conducting this operation, Detectives observed a suspicious subject looking into parked vehicles.  This subject matched the description of the outstanding suspect seen purchasing items with the stolen credit cards. The suspect was detained by officers and found to be in possession of stolen property from vehicles in the El Porto parking lot.
 
The suspect was arrested and charged with identity theft, receiving stolen property, and vehicle burglary.
 
The Manhattan Beach Police Department reminds everyone to never leave their keys in or around your parked vehicle or unattended on the beach. 

Arrested:
Jose Vega-Contreras
34 years old
Resident of Wilmington