(A Watsonville man was arrested Friday morning after deputies spotted this GMC Yukon on 41st Avenue in Capitola, which was caught on surveillance cameras from previous gas thefts. Photo courtesy of Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office)
WATSONVILLE — Police arrested a Watsonville man Friday morning suspected of stealing gas from “numerous” vehicles from the last couple of months, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Cleveland said.
Michael Harrington, 31, was arrested at about 10 a.m. when a Sheriff’s sergeant spotted his vehicle that was caught on surveillance cameras from previous gas thefts.
According to Cleveland, the gas thefts have been occurring since May at several county locations, including Cabrillo College. During several thefts at Cabrillo College, a black GMC Yukon vehicle was captured on surveillance cameras.
On July 9, several gas tanks were siphoned at Cabrillo College, and one gas tank was drilled, causing about $2,400 in damage, according to Cleveland.
Harrington
On Friday at about 5:20 a.m., a suspect drilled a gas tank on a vehicle in the Emeline Complex at 1000 Emeline Ave., with the same GMC seen on a nearby surveillance camera, Cleveland said.
Two hours later, another gas tank was siphoned from a car parked at Cabrillo College.
Harrington was spotted driving the GMC on 41st Avenue and Soquel Drive at about 10 a.m. The vehicle smelled of gas and contained gas siphoning equipment, a drill, and several gas tanks inside the car, Cleveland said.
Harrington was arrested for vehicle burglary.
It is unknown if Harrington is tied to the incident at Hertz car rental company on Aviation Way in Watsonville, where two vehicles were destroyed Tuesday night after someone reportedly drilled holes in the gas tank to steal fuel and sparked a fire. Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said police are looking at a possible connection.
Cleveland said Harrington is suspected of other gas thefts and vandalism cases in the unincorporated areas of the county.
