A Sunday night traffic stop in Pasadena ended with a stolen car, two guns, and a 31-year-old Los Angeles man in handcuffs, police said.
Officers pulled over a vehicle on the 2800 block of East Colorado Boulevard and discovered it had been reported stolen out of Los Angeles. Inside, they recovered a loaded Glock 45 handgun and an unloaded AK-47-style rifle, according to authorities.
The driver, identified as Jacob Carre, 31, was taken into custody without incident and later booked on suspicion of grand theft auto and weapons-related offenses, police said.
Police: Traffic stop leads to motel-room search and gun seizure
Pasadena Police Lt. Anthony Russo said officers were called at 9:59 p.m. on March 8 for a report of a suspicious vehicle. After running the license plate and learning the car was stolen, officers contacted Carre, who told them he was staying at a nearby motel.
With Carre’s consent, officers searched his motel room and found the firearms, including the loaded Glock, Russo said. Those details were provided to Pasadena Now.
Where this fits into bigger trends
After a pandemic-era surge, vehicle thefts have started to ease nationwide, but Southern California remains a hot spot for stolen-car cases.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported a decline in vehicle thefts in 2024, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and state officials credited targeted operations with a 13% drop in stolen vehicles statewide last year, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Local incidents like Sunday’s stop highlight how recovering a stolen vehicle can also turn up illegal firearms, complicating both investigations and public-safety responses.
Police seek tips from the public
Pasadena police asked anyone with information about the case to call (626) 744-4241 or report tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or via the P3 Tips mobile app.
The department confirmed the Glock was loaded, but did not say whether a round was chambered. These details were reported to Pasadena Now.
Booking and next steps
Carre was booked in Pasadena on suspicion of grand theft auto and weapons-related offenses. Prosecutors will determine the formal charges.
Police said no drugs were found during the search and that Carre did not resist arrest as officers carried out their investigation.
