Two men were arrested early Aug. 3 after a Santa Monica traffic stop turned up burglary tools, copper wiring, stolen license plates and other items, police said.
Officers on extra patrol near Cloverfield Boulevard and Pearl Street spotted a vehicle with an altered and unreadable license plate about 2:01 a.m. and initiated a stop near 25th Street and Pearl Street, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
Officers determined the driver, Walter Hernandez, 28, was driving without a valid license and observed open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle, police said. A subsequent search turned up burglary tools, about 10 feet of heavy-gauge copper wiring, drug paraphernalia, multiple vehicle key fobs and two license plates that did not belong to the vehicle. One of the plates had been reported stolen from a BMW. Three cell phones wrapped in clear tape were later found inside a backpack.
Hernandez and his passenger, Cristian Alberto Portillo, 41, were arrested on suspicion of possessing burglary tools, theft of copper wire, possession of stolen property and criminal conspiracy. Hernandez was also arrested on suspicion of offenses related to the altered license plate, driving without a license, possession of an open container and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Portillo was additionally found to have an outstanding felony warrant from Ventura County for grand theft and criminal conspiracy, police said.
The vehicle was towed, and the recovered property was booked into evidence. Detectives are continuing to investigate the origin of the copper wiring, license plates, key fobs and other items.
Anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a related theft is encouraged to contact the Santa Monica Police Department at 310-458-8491.
Edited by SMDP Staff