Transient arrested in theft of car from Santa Rosa gas station

The driver had left the car running and unlocked at a downtown Santa Rosa gas station when a man hopped in and drove away, say police.|
RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Dashing into a downtown Santa Rosa gas station store Monday, a driver left their car running and unlocked and came out to find it was gone, said Santa Rosa police.

Early Tuesday about 1:30 a.m., a police officer working downtown spotted a speeding four-door Kia Optima, determined it was the car stolen hours earlier and arrested the driver.

Sergio Espinoza Villalobos, 22, described as a Santa Rosa transient, was taken to the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of vehicle theft and possessing a stolen car.

The theft occurred at Mendocino and College avenues.

Santa Rosa police Sgt. Chris Mahurin asked anyone with information about the investigation to call police at 707-543-3590.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.

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