SERIAL CAR THIEF ARRESTED

A Joshua Tree man accused of stealing a car in August, and another car last week, was arrested September 15. According to Sheriff’s reports, the owners of a green 1997 Nissan 4-door reported the vehicle had been stolen August 15 from a driveway in the 61500 block of Granada Drive in Joshua Tree. As the owners were waiting outside for the Sheriff’s deputy to arrive, they saw their car being driven down the street. The owners got in another car and followed their stolen car, and confronted the suspected thieves, who ran off. The owners then recovered their vehicle. On Tuesday, September 15, deputies following up on a Mercedes stolen from a parking lot in Joshua Tree, went to a home in the 60200 block of La Mirada Trail. As the resident answered the door, deputies saw Anthony Colegio, 21, flee out the back of the house. After a short foot pursuit, deputies detained Colegio and arrested him on a warrant for stealing the Mercedes and for violating the terms of his probation for a felony spouse abuse charge from March. During a subsequent investigation, detectives linked Colegio to the stolen car in August and added an additional charge of being in possession of the stolen vehicle on Thursday, September 17. Anthony Colegio was booked at the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $200,000.