Bike Thief Arrested & Car Thief Arrested - Thanks to Calls from Alert Citizens

Incident #1
Santa Cruz Police arrested Jared Michael Foster, aka Mark Foster on an array of charges after an alert citizen recognized their stolen bicycle that he was riding.

On Friday, January 15, 2016, at about 12:30 a.m., an alert citizen called SCPD after recognizing his stolen Caletti bicycle valued at $5000.00. The suspect Jared Foster was riding the bicycle through a Westside neighborhood.

Responding to the call, an SCPD officer located the suspect riding the bicycle along the railroad tracks in the 100 block of Fair Avenue. The person matching the suspect description with the described bicycle was later identified as Jared Michael Foster, aka Mark Foster, 34, transient originally from Santa Cruz.

Jared Foster, 34, transient from Santa Cruz
When the Officer attempted to stop the suspect, he dropped the bicycle and sprinted away. As the suspect was running, he took off his sweatshirt and dropped his backpack before he jumped over a fence in his attempt to get away. Santa Cruz Police Officers quickly set up a perimeter and search. Minutes later the suspect was caught. Video surveillance also captured images of Jared Foster jumping over another gated fence onto a storage property in a attempt to hide from pursuing officers.

Jared Michael Foster was on active probation at the time of this incident. He was arrested for possession of stolen property, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen identification and violation of probation.

Incident #2
On Tuesday, January 19, 2016, at about 1:08 a.m., the Santa Cruz Police responded to a call from a resident in the 100 block of Alamo Avenue reporting that her car had just been stolen out of her driveway. The victim heard the car alarm sound from her black BMW 325i.  She looked out the window and saw her car being driven away northbound on Alamo Ave. Officers responded immediately to the area and began to search for the suspect.

Within minutes, an SCPD Officer anticipating the exact route the suspect may have taken spotted the car travelling on Mission Street. The stolen BMW passed him going in the opposite direction. The Officer made a quick U-turn and attempted to catch up to the BMW as it drove down Laurent Street.

Jared Norris, 20, transient from Santa Cruz 

The suspect later identified as Jared Norris abruptly stopped the car on California Street.  Norris then abandoned the car in an attempt to get away. The SCPD Officer chased after the suspect. The suspect was detained by the SCPD Officer at gun point.

The investigation revealed that the Jared Norris had a spare key to the BMW in his possession which was stolen from victim last year.

Jared Norris, 20, transient from Santa Cruz was arrested for vehicle theft, reckless driving, resisting arrest and possession of stolen property.