Police in Capitola and Scotts Valley worked over the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend to discourage petty crime.
The Capitola Police Department responded to two separate crimes over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to a social media post from the department.
Thursday, on Thanksgiving afternoon, police received a call about a shoplifter stealing food at New Leaf Community Market.
Prior to officers’ arrival, the shoplifter pushed one store manager and punched another in the throat. One manager was taken to the hospital, and there were no updates Monday on either.
Capitola Police Chief Sarah Ryan said in an email that it was unclear if the shoplifter stole food because they were hungry.
Police said the shoplifter is a repeat offender and was arrested, with a probation hold approved to keep him in custody.
Separately, on Thursday evening, police observed a driver in a Dodge Charger driving dangerously above the posted 25 mph speed limit in the Capitola Mall parking lot.
Ryan said via email that the driver was cited for reckless driving and the car was impounded. The driver was not cited for driving under the influence.
In Scotts Valley on Friday evening, a locked vehicle was broken into on Lucia Lane.
The Scotts Valley Police Department is asking residents on Quien Sabe Road, Green Tree Way, Suzanne Lane, Oak Creek Boulevard, Kirkorian Court, Angela Court and Glen Canyon Road to review any camera footage they might have captured during that time frame to help locate the suspect or associated vehicles.
Mail from neighboring residents was found near the burglary and returned.
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