DETAILS: San Angelo Police Confirm Arrest of Hartman Roofing Trailer Thief

SAN ANGELO, TX – The San Angelo Police Department on Thursday morning confirmed that the Hartman roofing trailer has been found and the suspect has been arrested. 

As previously reported, on Dec. 28, 2022 at around 9:30 p.m., San Angelo Police officers apprehend a man following a chase on the north side of San Angelo. New information released on Dec. 29 confirmed that the chase involved the suspect who stole the Hartman Roofing trailer. For the original story see: Reward Offered for High-End Roofing Equipment Stolen from Bentwood Job Site

The following is the full release from the San Angelo Police Department.

On Dec. 28, 2022, Officers were dispatched to the 1800 block of Overhill Dr. in reference to a theft of a trailer. It was learned that multiple pieces of equipment were located on the trailer prior to it being stolen. Officers documented the incident and enlisted the help of the public to help locate the trailer through a social media post. During the morning hours on Jan. 4, 2022 SAPD’s communications division received information regarding the whereabouts of the stolen trailer. Officers were then dispatched to the Unit Block of East 19th where they were able to locate the stolen trailer in the backyard of a residence. SAPD’s Criminal Investigations Division were contacted, and they arrived on the scene to further investigate the incident. The trailer was removed from the backyard of the residence, and it was learned from the Victim that multiple pieces of equipment were still missing from the trailer.  SAPD’s Anti-Crime and Gang Unit assisted with conducting surveillance on the residence in an attempt to locate the remaining stolen property. Officers received information that items were being removed from the rear of the residence and being placed into the back of a pickup truck. The truck was then observed leaving the residence at which point SAPD’s Patrol Division attempted to conduct a traffic stop on it. The Truck then fled the traffic stop and led officers on a short vehicle pursuit before returning back to the residence it had departed from. The suspect then led officers on a brief foot pursuit before being taken into custody by responding officers. The suspect was identified as Armando Villareal, 46, of San Angelo, and it was learned that multiple pieces of the Victim’s stolen equipment (as well as other suspected stolen property) were located in the bed of the pickup truck that Villareal had fled from. Multiple pieces of property were then seized from the scene with the assistance of SAPD’s Crime Scene Division. SAPD’s Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene and ultimately charged Villareal with Theft of Property between $30k and $100k, Evading Arrest/Detention in a Motor Vehicle, Evading Arrest/Detention on Foot with previous Convictions, and Multiple City Warrants. The SAPD would like to thank the public for providing the information that ultimately helped us locate the stolen trailer/equipment as well as other possible stolen property.

As of the Jan 5. Villareal remains in the Tom Green County Detention Facility on a $146,530 bond.