San Rafael police say a routine tech hit turned into a felony arrest yesterday, when officers pulled over a stolen Subaru, spotted a handgun on the driver, and booked him on weapons and vehicle-theft charges.
The Subaru, reported stolen out of the Sacramento area, was flagged by an automated license-plate reader before officers tracked it to Belvedere Street. Police detained two occupants during the stop. One was released after questioning, while the driver was arrested and booked on multiple felony counts related to the gun and the stolen vehicle, according to the department.
According to the San Rafael Police Department, the license-plate reader alert came in around 1:30 PM, identifying a Subaru with California plate 9XTK651 as stolen from the Sacramento area. When officers pulled the car over, the department says they saw a handgun tucked into the suspect driver’s front waistband.
OFFICERS FIND AND ARREST ARMED STOLEN CAR SUSPECT:
— San Rafael Police Department (@SanRafaelPolice) June 30, 2026
On 06/29/2026, at 1:30 PM, SRPD Officers were alerted that an automated license plate reader had detected a stolen vehicle taken from the Sacramento area. The alert also stated that the suspect was armed and dangerous.… pic.twitter.com/FrAVcxaRO7
How the stop unfolded
Per the San Rafael Police Department, the agency’s Air 1 unit circled overhead to provide cover, relaying real-time updates about any additional occupants and where the gun was located, while officers on the ground used clear commands and de-escalation tactics to keep the encounter from boiling over.
Officers removed a handgun from the driver, and the department says it was loaded at the time it was taken from the suspect. According to police, the driver was booked into Marin County Jail on felony counts that include possession of a concealed and loaded handgun, carrying a concealed and loaded handgun in a vehicle, carrying an unregistered handgun, and possession of a stolen vehicle. The second occupant, who police say appeared unaware the Subaru was stolen, was detained briefly and later released.
Automated readers and theft trends
Automated license-plate readers have become a go-to tool for locating stolen cars, and statewide numbers suggest why departments keep leaning on that technology. The state’s Crime in California report notes that vehicle-theft rates dipped in 2024 but still sit above pre-pandemic levels, keeping auto theft a major slice of overall property crime.
What the law says
Under California law, both carrying a concealed firearm and carrying a loaded firearm in public or in a vehicle are generally prohibited, and those offenses can be filed as felonies when certain factors are present, such as a stolen gun or prior convictions.
The relevant statutes are Penal Code section 25400, which covers carrying a concealed firearm, and section 25850, which addresses carrying a loaded firearm in public.
Across Marin County, coordinated efforts that combine plate readers with ground patrols and air support have produced several stolen-vehicle recoveries this year, according to a recent release from the sheriff’s office. The Marin County Sheriff's Office documented a similar recovery operation earlier in the year.
