Crime

Paso Robles man caught ‘throwing stolen property’ out car window after break-in, police say

Shallow depth of field image taken of yellow law enforcement line with police car and lights in the background.
Shallow depth of field image taken of yellow law enforcement line with police car and lights in the background. Getty Images/iStockphoto

A Paso Robles man was caught “throwing stolen property” out his car window while fleeing the scene of a break-in at a local storage facility, according to the Paso Robles Police Department.

John James Jenkins, Jr., 28, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree burglary and other charges, the agency said in a news release Wednesday.

Police received a call at about 5 p.m. Tuesday regarding several storage lockers that were broken into at the facility in the 2900 Block of Union Road, the release said.

“A manager investigated the matter and reviewed the on-site surveillance footage,” police said in the release. “The manager noted a red car on the premises during the time of the break-ins and noted the gate passcode used was that of a new tenant.”

Shortly before 8 p.m., the facility’s manager called police to report the tenant was back on the property and driving a red car, the release said.

“Officers arrived and attempted to stop the vehicle within the complex, but the driver, later identified as John James Jenkins, Jr , tried to flee, while throwing stolen property out of the car window,” police said in the release. “Jenkins was not able to exit the property and gave up.”

Several stolen items were recovered from the scene, the release said.

According to police, officers found a loaded .40 caliber handgun near the center console of Jenkins’ vehicle.

In addition to the burglary charge, Jenkins was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of possession of burglary tools, resisting a public officer, possession of a firearm by a felon and unlawful possession of ammunition, according to jail records.

He was being held Wednesday afternoon in jail custody in lieu of $50,000 bail, jail records said.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, police said.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the Paso Robles Police Department at 805-237-6464, the release said.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the Crime Stoppers’ hotline at 549-STOP or by texting “SLOTIPS” plus your message to CRIMES (274637).

This story was originally published March 15, 2023 at 2:58 PM.

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Joan Lynch
The Tribune
Joan Lynch is a housing reporter at the San Luis Obispo Tribune. Originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, Joan studied journalism and telecommunications at Ball State University, graduating in 2022.
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