Suspects arrested for stealing undercover CHP vehicle

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — On January 2 at approximately 2 a.m., an undercover CHP vehicle was stolen from the Cal Trans yard at 1200 Olive Drive.

According to the Kern County Auto Task Force, the vehicle was loaded with thousands of dollars of tools and radio equipment. The following day, Bakersfield Police found the vehicle and arrested the driver, Louis Estrada. While being interviewed, Estrada said that some of the tools and other property would be located at a home near 5400 Ridge Lake Court and that the owner was an accomplice.

According to investigators, they were given permission to conduct a protective sweep of the house and located stolen tools in the garage.

A search warrant then allowed them to go back and seize suspected stolen property including a Bosch rotary hammer kit, a Dewalt cordless two-position screwdriver kit, a Milwaukee deep cut band saw and a Black Night Owl Brand 8 channel Digital Video Recorder.

The two suspects were arrested on January 3 and are due back in court on January 17.