2 Oakland Men Arrested Early Saturday for Attempted Auto Theft

Two Oakland men were arrested on Saturday around 1 a.m. for attempted auto theft when San Leandro police officers spotted them acting suspiciously in area of Diehl Ave. and Dowling Blvd., according to a San Leandro Police Nixle Alert.

Read the full Nixle Alert below:

An officer patrolling the area spotted a vehicle drop its passenger off on MacArthur Blvd., near Diehl Ave. and then drive away. The passenger, later identified as 21 year old Hector Villanueva-Casillas, of Oakland, walked into the nearby residential neighborhood, where officers spotted him trying to enter a parked vehicle. He was contacted by police and found to be in possession of a tool commonly used to steal cars. 

Officers found the vehicle that Villanueva-Casillas had previously been a passenger in, parked nearby, and contacted 19 year old, Oakland resident, Jristoff Torres. 

During their investigation, officers determined that the two men were in the area to steal the parked vehicle and arrested them both for attempted auto theft. Villanueva-Casillas was also charged with possession of burglary tools. 

Lt. Robert McManus described this arrest as “Excellent police work by officers diligently patrolling the residential neighborhoods. This arrest likely prevented additional auto thefts in the area.” 

Both men were transported to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and will be scheduled for arraignment in the Hayward Superior Court on Monday, February 3rd. 

It is unknown as to whether or not the two men arrested are responsible for any other auto thefts in San Leandro. 

Please contact the San Leandro Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division with any information regarding this case at 510-577-3230 or contact the Anonymous Tip Line at 510-577-3278. 

Citizens can also send an anonymous tip to San Leandro Police Department by texting the word SLPD and their tip to 847411. 

Anonymous web tips can be submitted from the Police Department’s website at http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/pd/at.asp 

For crime prevention tips please go to the Police Department’s website at http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/pd or contact PSA Sandy Colwell at 510-577-3248. 

Citizens play a critical role in creating a safe environment by observing and reporting any suspicious and criminal activity to the Police. The San Leandro Police Department recommends that citizens do not participate in any direct verbal or physical involvement with suspicious persons or those who are committing crimes. The personal safety of the community is paramount. 

We encourage the San Leandro community to record the details of what they observe and to report those details to the Police. This type of community involvement and partnership has proven to be a very effective crime prevention tool. Citizens act as the eyes and ears of the community first, and the extended eyes and ears of the San Leandro Police Department. Thank you for being a force multiplier in our efforts to provide professional police services and safety to the community.