FRESNO - Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested 34 year old Anthony Garza of Fresno. He has been booked into the Fresno County Jail on multiple charges of burglary, possession of stolen property, attempting to steal a car and evading police. His bail is set at $203,500.
Around 11:45 am on Monday, deputies responded to a report of an auto theft in progress in a neighborhood near W. Barstow and N. Maroa Avenues in Fresno. The victim said she found a man (later identified as Anthony Garza) attempting to take her car, which was parked inside her garage. The woman confronted Garza, causing him to run away. While doing so, Garza dropped a bag filled with miscellaneous items.
Deputies, along with the sheriff’s helicopter EAGLE One, responded to the area of N. Del Mar and E. Alamos Ave. after receiving a report that Garza was running through the neighborhood. Fresno Police officers arrived and assisted with setting up a perimeter around homes to keep Garza from escaping. It was believed he may be hiding in someone’s backyard. Around 2:00 pm, deputies saw Garza try and run out of the perimeter. They chased him down and arrested him near the intersection of E. Santa Ana Ave. and N. Effie Street.
Detectives found evidence linking Garza to several previously reported burglaries in Fresno’s Old Fig Garden Neighborhood.
Detectives discovered that Garza was able to get into the victim’s garage earlier in the day by getting into an unlocked car parked outside the home and accessing the garage door opener left inside. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public of some important points to help avoid becoming targets / victims of thieves.
• Always lock doors and windows to your vehicle.
• Remove all valuable items from inside your vehicle if parked outside, including your garage door openers.
Anyone with additional information on Garza is asked to contact Detective Floyd Avila at (559) 600-8172 or Detective Tim Juarez at (559) 600-8061. You may also contact Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867. You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.