Alert Citizens Lead to Prowler Arrest + Recovered Property

Early yesterday 4/27/16 morning at about 5:30 am, a resident reported seeing a suspected car prowler rummaging through a car parked in the driveway. As an SCPD Patrol Officer was en route, two members from the household followed the suspected prowler as he walked away up High Street.

                                  Echo Lemke, 18 years old, from Santa Cruz 
The SCPD Officer quickly caught up with the suspect at Cardiff and High Streets.  Echo Lemke, 18 years old, from Santa Cruz was contacted and detained. The Officer asked Echo Lemke why was he inside the car. Mr. Lemke explained that he was looking through the victim’s car because he was “looking for a friend’s jacket”. 

Echo Lemke was taken into custody. He possessed stolen property from the victim’s car in his backpack. Mr. Lemke also had a stolen wallet, prescriptions and a skateboard in his possession from another car burglary case. Additionally, the Officer recovered a camera that does not belong to Mr. Lemke. 

The camera had photos of this family enjoying a wonderful vacation. Do you recognize this family? SCPD would very much like to get the camera back to the rightful owner. Please contact SCPD at 831-420-5800 refer to case 16S-03495. 

Echo Lemke was arrested for tampering with a vehicle, theft, and an outstanding bench warrant.

The #1 tip to stop car prowlers is to LOCK YOU CAR.   Click here for more steps to Car Prowl Prevention.