On December 26, 2022, at 7:00 am, three suspects were interrupted in the act of stealing the catalytic converter from a victim’s vehicle at the 200 block of El Camino Real. A neighbor was able to smash the windshield of the suspect’s vehicle as it fled the area. A short time later, an Oceanside Police Sergeant leaving work noticed three subjects nervously walking away from a vehicle with a smashed windshield near the Police Department Headquarters. The Sergeant put out descriptions over the radio, and units flooded the area. Within minutes, police observed two subjects walking West on Mission Avenue, and they were detained.
Officers detained the third subject a short time later at the 3800 block of Mission Avenue. The subject’s involvement was confirmed through surveillance footage. A search of the subject’s vehicle was conducted, and nine catalytic converters were found in the trunk, along with cutting tools and a hydraulic jack consistent with the tools utilized in the theft of catalytic converters.
Twenty-nine-year-old Jonathan Garcia, twenty-eight-year-old John Gonzalez, and thirty-two-yearold Jonathan Valledares Pineda, all residents of San Bernardino, were arrested for Grand Theft,
Possession of Stolen Property and Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, with a $150,000 bail. Additionally, California Penal Code 1275.1 conditions were set on the suspect’s bail, which is intended to prevent funds acquired by felony criminal activity from being utilized to post bail. The Oceanside Police Department is actively investigating this incident and seeking additional victims. Detectives are currently coordinating with other agencies to locate potential victims in surrounding areas during the timeframe before the arrest. If you believe you may be a victim or have information regarding this incident, please contact Detective James at (760) 435-4286 or email cjames@oceansideca.org.
