In southeast Fresno Friday night, police took down two carjacking suspects in a liquor store parking lot and recovered the owner’s S.U.V. in one piece.
Police say a man and a woman took it during an armed carjacking around noon at Belmont and Clark.
“Female brandished a knife and demanded that the victim drive them around. Then the victim basically said take the car,
I’m out of here,” said Sgt. Todd Miller.
Around 6:30 p.m., an officer spotted the vehicle with people in it at Maple and Belmont. The patrol unit followed them into the Super 7 liquor store parking lot, called for backup, and then stopped the suspects from going any further.
“Went very well. Very good police work today,” said Sgt. Miller.
In a city where around 10 cars are stolen each day and chop shops pop up left and right, officers consider it a victory to be able to recover this car in good shape.
“We’re always happy to return a vehicle to an owner without any damage,” said Sgt. Miller.
Police say the owner’s decision to bail out of the car was best for him and the thieves. It potentially saved his life and the suspects avoided a kidnapping charge.
