Suspected package thieves arrested in Petaluma

Two men suspected of stealing packages from a Petaluma UPS drop box and other homes around town were arrested Thursday, the Petaluma Police Department said.

Officers began looking for the suspects after a resident noticed a man break into a UPS drop box in the 100 block of Lynch Creek Way, near the Petaluma Valley Hospital, about 11:20 a.m. The man took several packages and got into a waiting car with a Wyoming license plate, the witness reported. The vehicle, described as a silver hatchback, then headed west on East Washington Street.

Officers stopped a car that matched the description as it was exiting Highway 101 at Lakeville Highway.

Inside, police found Suisun City resident Mark Ganzon Carrion, 41, and Vallejo resident Christopher Advincula Lopez, 39, along with several packages that did not belong to either men, the news release said.

Police later identified the packages as stolen items, some taken from Petaluma homes. Mail belonging to residents from the Suisun City area also was inside the car. Officers also found what they suspected was methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

Both men were booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of several crimes, including burglary, possession of methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit a crime, police said. Officers are conducting an additional investigation to identify the owners of the stolen mail.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified one of the suspects.