District Police apprehended a Santa Rosa man for spray-painting a stolen Trek bike in the stairwell of the Zumwalt Parking Pavillion late in the evening of Sept. 20
The thief stole the bike from Trek Bicycle Store on Mendocino Avenue. The bike retailed for over $5,000.
Billy James Smith, 29, admitted to the theft and was subsequently booked at the Sonoma County Jail. Authorities said Smith was attempting to disguise the stolen bike by painting it a different color.
Two days later, district police officers detained Martin John Toledo, 48, for attempted bicycle theft. Toledo had been seen attempting to cut a cable lock that secured a bicycle to an Emeritus bike rack, according to District Police report.
When detained, police found Toledo with bolt cutters and pliers in his backpack and he admitted his intentions to steal the bike and then trade it for drugs. Police booked Toledo at Sonoma County jail under the charges of attempted theft and possession of burglary tools. Toledo has a lengthy history of theft and drug affiliation.
The Clery crime log reported 20 bike thefts during the last year.
To avoid being another theft statistic, police recommed to securely lock your bike to designated bike racks with a solid steel lock instead of a cable. There are also mini bike lockers in certain campus locations, and the cost is 5 cents per hour. Please help keep crime to a minimum by reporting suspicious behavior to the SRJC District Police Department at (707) 527-1000.
