A Hyundai Tucson was stolen from Marin Valley Drive yesterday. The drama unfolded into the night when the California Highway Patrol (CHP) spotted the vehicle zooming north on Highway 101 near the Nave Drive off-ramp. The CHP initiated a chase that led to the car being abandoned at Hamilton School's parking lot.
In a subsequent move by law enforcement, the suspect, described as a Hispanic male in his late teens or early 20s with a distinguishing mustache, fled the scene, leaving the vehicle behind. He was last seen clad in a black hoodie, white undershirt, and white shoes. Despite the collective efforts of Novato Police and CHP, including the deployment of a CHP helicopter, the suspect evaded capture and remains at large. A statement on the Novato Police's Facebook page acknowledged the support of "our partners at CHP Marin and CHP Golden Gate Air Operations for their assistance in this case."
In an attempt to close the net on the suspect, Novato Police are now turning to the community for help. They've issued a call to residents near Hamilton School and Martin Drive, urging them to review their surveillance footage for any sign of the individual who disrupted the quietude of their neighborhood.
For those Novato residents who want to take a more active role in preventing crime, the Police Department encourages participation in their Camera Registry Program. The program aims to streamline the gathering of video evidence by mapping the locations of public and private security cameras. Those interested in joining the effort to keep their streets safe can do so by visiting novato.org/registeryourcameras.
