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Crime & Safety

Local Teen Arrested in Connection with Auto Theft

An officer spotted the stolen vehicle hours after it was reported missing.

Albany police arrested a local teenager early this morning on suspicion of stealing a car at about 6:30 p.m. Friday, according to authorities.

The owner of the vehicle, a 1998 Saturn, reported that it had been stolen from Cleveland Avenue near the I-80 westbound off ramp, said Sgt. Chris Willis, Albany Police Department.

This morning at 2:52 a.m., an Albany police officer spotted the vehicle on Buchanan Street as it entered I-80 westbound. 

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The officer recognized the vehicle because of its distinctive body damage, Willis said. 

"The driver's door was basically torn off," he said. "The officer was just in that area monitoring for drunk drivers."

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The officer followed the Saturn off I-80 onto Ashby Avenue and then onto San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley. Albany and Berkeley police officers stopped the vehicle on San Pablo at Burnett Street.

The driver, Ruben Sigala, 19, and four occupants were taken into custody without incident.

Sigala used to live in University Village but is now transient, Willis said.

Sigala was arrested on suspicion of auto theft. The other occupants, who were all 18 or 19 years old, were released after it was determined they were not responsible for the theft.

Sigala will be taken to Alameda County Jail in downtown Oakland to be booked, Willis said.

"It turned outo really well for everybody," he added. "Nobody got hurt. The people who really weren't responsible are on their way home. The responsible is on his way to jail. That's the best way it can go."

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