Suspect in car theft arrested as he crosses border back to U.S. with stolen car

Calexico Police arrested a Pasadena resident on suspicion of car theft.

Calexico police said a Pasadena resident stole a car from a self-parking lot, took it to Mexicali, then tried to cross it back.

46-year-old Eduardo Urgiles was stopped at the downtown port of entry.

Calexico Police Officer Sean Acuna said, “And the officer was just going to initially recover the vehicle,because there was not enough evidence at that point to connect him to the theft or to show that he had knowledge of the theft.”

An immigration officer recognized the suspect from a police be-on-the-lookout photo he had received ina mass cellphone message.

“When the secondary officer arrived at the port of entry, he was able to show the assigned officer thephotograph he had, and it was a match of the person being detained.

The photos provided by Calexico Police.

“I had sent a mass text to all on-duty and off-duty personnel, police personnel of the photographs the victim had provided me,” Acuna said.

Acuna said the photos connected Urgiles to the theft.

“When the suspect saw his photo in the security footage from you park he just basically let out a big sigh and looked down,” Acuna said.

Acuna said auto theft is a serious problem locally.

“365 auto thefts a year. So,you can figure about one a day, that’s the average,” Acuna said.

He recommends locking cars properly and leaving nothing of value visible inside.

“If you have no other choice because of circumstance, secure your items in the trunk. Leave nothing visible,”Acuna said.

Urgiles is charged with auto theft and possession of stolen property. He faces serious time in prison if convicted.