Police Nab Vehicle Break-in Suspects

An 18-year-old Novato man was arrested with a 15-year-old unnamed boy on suspicion of petty theft and possession of stolen property Thursday after a report of two subjects trying to open car doors in the Olive neighborhood.

Novato police responded to a call in the vicinity of Lea Drive and McClelland Drive and witnessed the two as they appeared to be in search of vehicles with unlocked doors and windows.  Officers contacted the subjects, who were found to be in possession of property stolen from victim’s vehicles.  

At 12:55 a.m., someone called police to say he saw three males dressed in dark clothing checking door handles in the 400 block of Lea Drive.  The subjects were whistling back and forth to each other after seeing the reporting party.  All were on foot and no vehicle appeared to be involved. 

Benjamin Joseph Hart, 18, was booked into Marin County Jail and the 15-year-old boy was booked into the Marin County Juvenile Hall. The investigation is ongoing.

According to police call logs for April 7, there were two similar reports in the same area after those arrests were made.

At 11:46 a.m. a theft was reported on the 1100 block of McClelland Drive. A victim’s unlocked vehicle had been entered overnight and three guitars and an amplifier were stolen. The estimated loss was valued at $4,700. 

At 5:55 p.m. another theft was reported on the 1100 block of McClelland Drive.  Another victim’s vehicle had been rummaged through and a pair of sunglasses and a folding blade knife was reported stolen. The loss was approximately $95. 

A week earlier, unlocked vehicles in the San Marin neighborhood were ransacked and items were thrown all over sidewalks, gutters and people's yards. Police haven't commented on a possible connection between the San Marin and Olive incidents.