CHP arrests driver after more than $1,000 in stolen alcohol, meat found in trunk during stop
Over $1,000 of stolen alcohol and meat was discovered during a traffic stop in San Luis Obispo County late Sunday.
Around midnight, a California Highway Patrol unit made a traffic stop of a vehicle that was weaving on northbound Highway 101 south of Avila Beach Drive, CHP Officer Angela Molinar told The Tribune.
The CHP unit originally stopped the car for a suspected DUI, but the driver and passenger gave conflicting statements that led officers to discover multiple stolen items in the vehicle, Molinar said.
The officers planned to tow the car after discovering the driver’s license was suspended.
However, when they opened the trunk and backseat, they found at least 30 bottles of alcohol and multiple meat products with the security labels still on them, Molinar said.
Molinar estimated the value of the stolen items to be over $1,000.
The items were traced by security tags to a CVS in Santa Maria and multiple Ralph’s grocery stores throughout San Luis Obispo County, Molinar said. Officers were able to access security footage from these retail locations, she said.
The officers confiscated the car and the stolen items, Molinar said.
The driver was booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of charges of grand theft, possession of burglary tools and delaying an officer by giving false information, she said.
