WATSONVILLE — Watsonville police on Oct. 18 arrested a man suspected of stealing a wheelchair ramp used by a young girl to enter and exit her home.
The Santa Cruz County Auto Theft Reductions and Enforcement Task Force (S.C.A.R.E.) arrested Pedro Villanueva, 27. He has been charged with grand theft.
He is also facing vehicle theft charges for allegedly stealing a Toyota Tacoma.
During an interview with police, Villanueva admitted to stealing the wheelchair ramp and led detectives to a residence where Sandra Moore was arrested for being in possession of the ramp. Moore was allegedly storing the ramp for the suspect, said Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido.
The ramp was stolen around 3 a.m. The Deputy Sheriff’s Association replaced the wheelchair ramp before the original one was found.
S.C.A.R.E. is a task force made up of detectives from the Sheriff’s Office, WPD and California Highway Patrol. It also works with the District Attorney’s Office.
