Thieves thwarted

The Chico Police Department scored a hat trick last weekend when officers recovered three stolen vehicles and arrested three suspected car thieves in less than an hour.

The first suspect, Robert Secrest, 36, was arrested after being caught inside one of the vehicles on the 1500 block of Park Avenue just before midnight on Sunday (July 24). Two 17-year-olds were arrested about half an hour later after being pulled over on Broadway Street downtown.

A third stolen vehicle was found at 12:48 a.m. at 100 Salem St. and appeared to have been recently abandoned, as the engine was still running. A suspect in that case is yet to be identified.