SAPD Officers Bust Vehicle Burglars Thanks to Victims' GPS Devices

SAN ANGELO, TX - This weekend, San Angelo Police recovered several stolen items from multiple vehicle burglaries in the Bentwood neighborhood with the help of GPS technology Friday night.

SAPD Public Information Officer Tracy Gonzalez said, at around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, December 16, officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of S. Bell Street in reference to a vehicle burglary that just occurred. 

She said, "Upon arrival, officers met with victims who said they were tracking their stolen cell phone using the phone’s Find My iPhone app. The victims began tracking the phone after they noticed their items were missing from their vehicle that had been parked in the 5400 block of Enclave Court. The victims also provided officers with a description of two suspects and the license plate number of the silver Chrysler 300 they were driving. They said the two men were at a residence on La Mesa Lane, unloading items from the vehicle."

SAPD officials then proceeded to a residence in the 1800 block of La Mesa Lane. They observed a man walking to the suspect vehicle. 

"The man was detained and identified as 27-year-old Gabriel Anthony Gonzales," added Officer Gonzalez. "Officers made contact with a second subject, 22-year-old Tarell Andre Dumas, inside the residence."

During a conversation with Gonzales, police observed backpacks, cloth bags, tools, and gloves on the backseat of the vehicle, along with a rifle on the floorboard. 

Gonzalez added, "While conducting the field investigation, officers became aware of two additional vehicle burglaries that occurred in the 5200 block of Fairway Drive, where a rifle and cloth bags were reported stolen. Detective J. Russell and Crime Scene Investigations were called to the scene for follow up investigation."

During a probable cause search of the vehicle, SAPD officials confirmed that the rifle and cloth bags were stolen from the burglaries on Fairway Drive; however, two stolen purses reported from the vehicle burglary on Enclave Court were not located, so police obtained a search warrant for the residence. 

"During the search, police located the two stolen purses underneath a bed and another stolen phone in the field behind the residence," noted Officer Gonzalez. "Subsequent to the field investigation, Gonzales was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by Felon and Dumas was charged with Theft of a Firearm. Additional charges may be filed pending the outcome of this ongoing investigation." 

Based on the outcome of this case, SAPD advises victims who use such technology to track stolen property to never put themselves in danger by confronting suspects themselves. 

"Instead, be a good witness by safely recording the suspect(s) and/or vehicle description and immediately contact law enforcement," said Gonzalez. "No property is worth risking your life for."