3 Cars Stolen in 16 Hours in South Lake Tahoe; 3 Suspects Arrested

Three Placerville 18 year olds have been arrested in connection with three auto thefts that took place in South Lake Tahoe between 7 p.m. March 31 and 11 a.m. April 1. The trio is also suspected in stealing contents from other cars as well.

Brian Barnes, Elija Kidwell and Sean Murphy were arrested and book into El Dorado County Jail on felony charges of auto theft, possession of stolen property and conspiracy for at least one of the auto thefts and to some of the property thefts.

At least three vehicles were stolen and several unlocked cars within the city had property stolen from the interiors. In each auto theft case, the vehicle had been left unlocked with the keys inside. Only one of the three stolen vehicles has been recovered so far.

The spree began on Monday evening, when a white 1991 Jeep Cherokee, which displays CA plate 2WLV403 in a bright yellow rear license plate frame, was stolen from in front of a residence on Bowers Avenue. This vehicle has not been located. It has orange and red stripes on the sides with several bumper stickers on the back. Then, at about 10:40pm the same night, less than a mile away, a 1991 Subaru Outback was stolen from the parking lot of Inn by the Lake, located at 3300 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

On Tuesday morning, around 9am, a victim discovered at least three men stealing items out of his unlocked vehicle in front of his house on Lodi Avenue. When he went to investigate, the suspects fled in the stolen Subaru Outback. Police responded and found the stolen Subaru abandoned in the parking lot of the Nickelodeon Motel located at 2440 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

SLTPD officers were assisted by El Dorado County Deputies in searching the area for the suspects. Three suspects were located at the Grocery Outlet store at 2358 Lake Tahoe Blvd., where at least one other victim had already discovered a theft from their unlocked vehicle in the parking lot. The victim from Lodi Avenue identified the suspects to police, who were found in possession of stolen property belonging to the Subaru as well as to other victims. While being booked, at around 10:45am, a third vehicle was stolen from the parking lot of McDonald’s at 1035 Emerald Bay Road. This is forest green 1996 Subaru Legacy sedan with CA plates of 6AON070. The white Jeep Cherokee and this forest green Subaru remain outstanding.

Many crimes are suspected to be connected to this same group of suspects. Police believe there are several thefts from unlocked vehicles that have not yet been discovered or reported.

Public’s assistance is being requested to watch for the unrecovered stolen vehicles and to call 911 if discovered.

Every year in the cold winter months, the City of South Lake Tahoe sees an increase in the number of auto thefts as unlocked vehicles left idling by their owners become easy targets. Throughout the year thieves find it convenient to steal property from unlocked vehicles.

As reported weekly in South Tahoe Now, there are an average of 4 auto thefts every month in city limits.