After receiving 13 reports vehicle thefts over one weekend earlier this month, the Alameda Police Department (APD) made two arrests on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle.

First, on Tuesday, March 14, around 12:30 p.m., an APD patrol officer found an unoccupied stolen vehicle in the South Shore Shopping Center. The officer reviewed surveillance video and saw that the vehicle’s occupants entered a nearby store. Further investigation revealed the occupants attempted to commit a theft in the store but were interrupted by the loss prevention team. The officer shared images of the occupants to all APD patrol officers.

Just before 2 p.m. that same day, a Community Resource Unit officer was on the 2200 block of Otis Drive when he spotted two pedestrians who matched the people seen in the photograph. As the officer attempted to speak to them, both parties ran. After a brief foot pursuit, Nailah Hepburn, a 40-year-old Oakland woman, was later determined to be the driver of the stolen vehicle and was arrested, according to an APD report.

During their search, officers located multiple cell phones, nearly four dozen credit cards, and narcotics. Officers have been in contact with the vehicle owner and are working to connect with the owners of the stolen credit cards and cell phones. Hepburn was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest, according to the APD daily activity log. She is not listed on the Alameda County Inmate Locator database as of Monday, March 20, which means she has posted bail.

The second arrest took place a few days later on Friday, March 17. Around 3 p.m., APD officers located an occupied stolen vehicle parked in the South Shore Shopping Center. The occupant, Donaven St. John, a 30-year-old San Francisco man, was contacted and arrested. At the conclusion of the investigation, officers were able to reunite the owner with their vehicle.

St. John was initially charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and a parole violation, according to the daily activity log. He has since been charged with grand theft. He is being held at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on no bail. His arraignment took place on Wednesday, March 22 at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.

Vehicle thefts have surged in recent weeks in Alameda. As a result, officers increased patrols in key areas in search of these stolen cars. APD has used data to direct designate where their officers should patrol and as a result more stolen vehicles are being located.

If you have any information on vehicle thefts, contact APD at 510-337-8340.