Anonymous Tipster Leads to Arrest of Suspected Car Thieves

By Bay City News

San Leandro police arrested two Oakland men on Monday afternoon after they were spotted driving a stolen car, police said.

Shortly before 3:30 p.m., a police officer spotted a car traveling in the 300 block of East 14th Street in San Leandro, ran its license plate number and learned it had been reported stolen, according to police.

The officer attempted to stop the car but the driver sped off, heading north toward Oakland, police said. As the chase reached the 1900 block of 105th Avenue in Oakland, the car crashed into several parked vehicles and came to rest, police said.

The driver and passenger, identified as Donte Neal, 22, and Lewis Lovett, 21, both of Oakland, fled on foot in opposite directions, according to police.

Oakland police and the Alameda County Sheriff's Office assisted in the search for Neal and Lovett, police said.

While the search was under way, San Leandro police received an anonymous tip through their Tip411 system from someone informing them that the passenger was hiding in a trailer near 104th Avenue and Birch Street, police said.

The driver was then found in a backyard between 105th and 106th avenues.

Both Neal and Lovett were arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of auto theft and resisting arrest.

Copyright © 2012 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any
other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc.
is prohibited.