Piedmont Police Department officers arrested a driver with an outstanding warrant during a traffic stop on February 22. Burglary tools associated with catalytic converter theft were found in the driver’s car.
The traffic stop came at 4 a.m. at Elwood and Grand avenues. A red 2007 Volvo XC90 was pulled over for an obstructed license plate.
Officers did a records check on driver Victor Espinoza of Oakland (born 1981) and found an outstanding warrant for reckless driving while evading police.
According to Piedmont Police Captain Chris Monahan, officers saw tools “in plain view” in the car. A search produced a DeWalt reciprocating saw, a Milwaukee reciprocating saw, a Milwaukee impact drill, two Bosch sparkplugs, a jack stand and a hydraulic jack.
Espinoza was transported to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin where he was booked for the outstanding felony warrant and possession of burglary tools. The vehicle was towed.
This incident follows several PPD traffic stops in early February that have resulted in arrests and recovery of burglary tools associated with catalytic converter theft.