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Deputies arrested three women from Salinas after they smashed a window and attempted to break into a Schellville gas station. At about midnight on Tuesday morning, July 16^th deputies were called to the Bonnneaus Gas Station on Arnold at Fremont St on a report of a suspicious vehicle parked at the closed business.
 
Deputies were aware that there had been an attempted burglary at the same gas station in late June. In that situation a suspect had attempted to break a lock but was unsuccessful.
 
Because of the previous report, the deputies approached the area blacked out and stayed a distance away from the gas station to watch the activity. They observed a van leave the area and then about ten minutes later a black Volkswagon Jetta pulled up near the business. The deputy observed someone exit the car and remove the license plates off the vehicle and put what was later determined to be a stolen license plate on the back of the car.
 
The car then pulled into the lot of the gas station and a suspect wearing a black hooded jacket, black pants and black bandana exited the rear passenger side of the car and approached the building. A moment later the deputy heard the smashing sound of breaking glass and an audible alarm sounded. The suspect quickly jumped back into the car and it sped off northbound on Arnold Drive.
 
Other deputies were waiting in the area and made a traffic stop on the car at Arnold and Mission Drive. Two women, Kristine Razo, 40 and Karen Loggins, 22, both from Salinas were taken into custody without incident. The third suspect, Veronica Powers, 32 of Salinas, refused to come out of the car for about 15-minutes. She cooperated and was taken into custody once the Sheriff’s canine arrived on scene and warnings were issued.
 
Inside the car deputies found a notebook with various addresses of gas stations, a hammer, screwdrivers, heroin, a smoking pipe, bandanas, gloves and dark clothing. They were taken to the Sheriff’s Sonoma Valley substation for interviews and were ultimately booked on attempted burglary, conspiracy, drug and resisting arrest charges. They all remain in custody on $20,000 bail.
 
Sheriff’s Property Crimes detectives are following up on the case, potentially linking these suspects to a string of Bay Area lottery ticket thefts at gas stations.

Prepared by: Sgt. Spencer Crum
CR#: 190716005
Media Information: 707-565-3941