CHP Arrests Woman Driving Stolen Van

A 25-year-old Novato woman faces three felony charges after she was found driving a stolen vehicle that had burglary tools in it but no ignition key, the California Highway Patrol said Thursday.

A CHP officer saw a 1993 Plymouth Voyager minivan driving westbound on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge without license plates and pulled over the driver at about 4:30 a.m, Sgt. Patrick Roth said. The woman could not provide any registration for the minivan, so the officer ran the vehicle identification number through the statewide computer system for stolen vehicles. It came back positive — the Voyager was reported stolen from San Pablo.

The woman denied knowledge of the theft, but the officer found burglary tools in the van and in her clothing, Roth said. Also, she had been driving the van without an ignition key.

Santa Monica Magana, who gave her occupation as an office manager, was arrested at 4:43 a.m. and booked at Marin County Jail. She faces felony charges of vehicle theft, grand theft and receipt of a stolen vehicle plus a misdemeanor of possession of burglary tools.

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