Suspect Arrested in Theft of 2nd Auto

A Salinas man who Ventura County sheriff’s deputies say was driving a stolen car is suspected of helping himself to a second vehicle in Thousand Oaks when the first car began to overheat.

Antonio Gonzales, 36, allegedly stole a blue Chevrolet in Salinas and drove it until it had mechanical problems, abandoning the car at 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Sheriff’s Det. Tom Bennett said.

Witnesses told deputies that Salinas then stole a Chevy Blazer from the parking lot of Denny’s restaurant at 50 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Bennett said.

“A man leaving Denny’s said, ‘I think that guy is stealing that truck,’ ” Bennett said. “A second guy said, ‘I know he is--that’s my truck.’ ”

The two men immediately reported the theft, and sheriff’s deputies stopped Gonzales about five miles away, near the Lindero Canyon Road exit of the southbound Ventura Freeway, Bennett said.

“They reported the theft right away, we had officers in the right place at the right time. Everything went right for us on this one,” the detective added.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Salinas on suspicion of auto theft, and driving under the influence of alcohol, Bennett said. He is being held in Ventura County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.