Last Updated on January 9, 2023 by CCAR Staff
COVINA >> Police arrested two men Tuesday for stealing a car and burglarizing cars located at a church parking lot.
Awad Khair Zaben, 20, and Jose Francisco Chavez, 27, both of Fontana, were arrested by Covina police for car theft, possession of stolen property and for investigation of burglary, police said in a statement,
Chavez was also charged for possessing burglary tools.
Police received a call at 1:08 p.m. about a solo car crash in the 1500 block of E. Via Verde St. where they saw two males running from the car.
Officers detained the two men as they investigated the incident, the statement said.
They determined that Zaben and Chavez were the driver and the passenger of the car, and ran from the car after crashing into an embankment.
During a records check, according to the statement, police discovered the car had been reported stolen on March 4 in the city of Corona.
Found inside the car were items that were similar to ones reported stolen from two vehicles earlier Monday, parked in the lot of Sacred Heart Church, in the 300 block of West Workman Avenue, the statement said.
Both suspects are in custody at the Covina Police Department jail pending their arraignment Thursday at Citrus Superior Court, according to the statement.
Anyone with information or questions in connection with this these incidents is encouraged to call the Covina Police Department Detective Bureau at 626-384-5620, the watch commander at 626-384-5665 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. Refer to Covina police case number 16-08715.
