CHPD, CPD Quickly Nab Young Car Thieves

Story updated September 23, 2014, 6:54 a.m.

Joint efforts of the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Police departments led to the speedy recovery of a stolen car Sunday night, along with the arrest of two young car thieves.

Chapel Hill Police Public Information Sergeant Brian Walker says employees at the valet stand at 450 West Franklin Street near Carolina Brewery noticed multiple car keys missing just before 10:00 p.m.

“Officers checked the parking lot where the vehicles are kept,” Sgt. Walker says. “One of the vehicles whose keys had been taken had also been taken. It was a 2013 BMW 528i.”

2013 BMW 528i (Stock photo – this was not the car that was stolen)

He says officers immediately put out a BOLO (Be on the Lookout), which notifies all nearby agencies of the incident.

Jesse Mutua

“Within just an hour or two, (the) Carrboro Police Department encountered that vehicle inside Carrboro,” Sgt. Walker says. “When they attempted to stop the vehicle, the two gentlemen inside the vehicle jumped from the vehicle and fled. They were taken into custody shortly after that by Carrboro and Chapel Hill officers.”

Sgt. Walker says the car was not damaged, according to the report.

Raekwon Ortiz Snipes

Jesse Mutua, 19, of Carrboro and Raekwon Ortiz Snipes, 18, of Chapel Hill were arrested. They were each charged with three misdemeanor counts of larceny and one felony count of motor vehicle theft. Sgt. Walker says the additional larceny charges were for other keys that were found in their possession, but no other vehicles were reported missing.

According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, this is the third time Mutua has been arrested. He was previously charged with felony breaking and entering and larceny involving a motor vehicle in January of last year, as well as felony breaking and entering last December.

Each of the men arrested were held at Orange County Jail under a $10,000 secured bond. Their first appearance in court is scheduled for Monday at 2:00 p.m.

Sgt. Walker says both police departments were proud of the speed at which this case was resolved.

“Carrboro Police and our officers, we might wear different uniforms, but we have the same goal,” Sgt. Walker says. “That’s exactly what this was. This was good teamwork that resulted in an excellent outcome in this case.”

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