By Khalida Sarwari
Santa Cruz police on Monday arrested a man on suspicion of committing multiple auto burglaries in the last three months.
Officers responded to a report of a possible auto burglary in progress in the 100 block of Catalpa Street around 4:10 a.m. Monday.
Arriving officers found a person matching the suspect description sitting on a sidewalk curb on Melrose Avenue and searching through a purse, according to police.
Police arrested Martin Gaona, 36, of Santa Cruz, after finding stolen items in his backpack, police said.
Officers also found items that were stolen from vehicles near where Gaona was sitting on the sidewalk and returned those belonging to two victims in the neighborhood.
Gaona was arrested for the third time in the last three months for auto burglaries in the eastside of Santa Cruz, according to police.
Anyone with information regarding this burglary is asked to call the Police Department’s tip line at (831) 420-5995.