Authorities in San Bernardino have nabbed a Whittier man, identified as Salvador Gonzalez, 29, in connection with a series of vehicle thefts and related crimes. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department, Gonzalez was arrested on charges including grand theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, and operating a chop shop. The situation unraveled when deputies, responding to a theft report on April 21, traced a stolen tailgate to a red Nissan Sentra linked to the suspect.
During a probe into the grand theft of a 2019 Toyota Tacoma's tailgate in Loma Linda, the deputies' investigative maneuvers soon pointed them to the residence of Gonzalez. While conducting an area check and following a lead to the 6900 block of Tippecanoe Avenue, they came across the aforementioned Sentra, alongside the stolen auto parts. Following up on a probation search of the said address two days later, they discovered 13 tailgates from various truck brands and five stolen vehicles, as per official reports.
Gonzalez's arrest followed a search led by Central Station's Multiple Enforcement Team and detective bureau, with further support from the Auto Theft Task Force. After being booked into Central Detention Center with bail set at $40,000.00, Gonzalez managed to post bail and was released from custody. The case details were furnished by Deputy J. Leatherman and Deputy D. Price of the Central Station, who have since urged anyone with additional information to come forward to assist the ongoing investigation.
With Gonzalez currently out of custody, the investigators are actively seeking victims who may have been affected by the illicit operations centered around the Tippecanoe address. Unnamed sources from the Sheriff's department state that the recovery of the stolen tailgates and vehicles marks a significant checkpoint in their fight against local vehicle theft rings. As the probe intensifies, victims and witnesses are encouraged to reach out to Central Station at (909) 387-3545 or the anonymous We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME, as detailed in the sheriff's statement.
