Police apprehend thieves attempting to steal trailer and $21,000 worth of items

It was a concerned citizen who reported suspicious activity in the area of the College Park Apartments in Lemoore. The citizen stated the two men had hastily attached a trailer parked in the apartment complex parking lot to a pickup and quickly drove away, creating suspicion. One of the men was running beside the trailer.

Lemoore Police Department officers responded quickly and were able to locate the trailer and pick up, traveling eastbound on Hanford-Armona Rd. in the area of 19th Avenue. The officers stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver and passenger, Robert Anthony Sotelo, 47, and Albert Gaytan, 46, both of Hanford.
The officers were able to locate the owner of the trailer. The owner confirmed there was no-one was allowed to tow his property away. Sotelo and Gaytan were subsequently arrested for 2 counts of vehicle theft. They were been booked into the Kings County Jail on $45,000 bail each.

Albert Gaytan

Inside the trailer was a motorcycle valued at $17,000. Thanks to quick thinking and reporting of this suspicious activity, and a fast police response, more than $21,000 in property was recovered and returned to the owner.