Calif: suspects make cops' job easy

Gina Tenorio Staff Writer

Copyright 2005 MediaNews Group, Inc.
San Bernardino Sun (San Bernardino, CA)

REDLANDS If only they could have booked themselves into jail, too.

That's all a couple of suspected car thieves had left to do. After all, it's not all suspects who leave behind fingerprints and photos of themselves in the stolen car, outside the stolen car and standing with someone's family by the stolen car.

And Redlands police were ever-so-grateful to 28-year-old Albert Engelsman of Redlands and 22-year-old Matthew Montanez of Rialto, who pretty much did all the legwork for investigators who recovered the 2001 Ford Mustang the men are suspected of stealing.

All the photos, of course, were taken with a disposable camera the suspects found in the car which was left behind when they abandoned the car.

"These are not the brightest people,' said Carl Baker, public-information officer with the Police Department. "I think, in general, what I find is that crooks, as a class of people, are not the brightest. But every once in a while you run into some that make others look like Einstein.'

The Mustang's owner had reported the car stolen on Oct. 30. It was found on Kenwood Drive in Redlands on Nov. 2. As detectives searched through the car, they came upon the camera and took it out to be developed, Baker said.

And there, along with a few photos obviously taken by the car's owner, they found the clear mugs of their suspects, Baker said. Pictures and fingerprints led them right to Engelsman's doorstep.

Police were ready for anything, including that the great mind behind this grand theft could look different from the photo investigators had in hand.

Wrong again.

On Dec. 9, police detectives Don Bryson and Carlos Castillo found Engelsman at his home wearing the same shirt he wore in the photographs.

"The detectives said, 'Here you are in the photo, and here you are in the same shirt that you were wearing," Baker said. "Once he was confronted with this evidence, he pretty much realized he was done in.'

And he admitted to stealing the car with help from his brother-in-law Montanez, Baker said.

Engelsman gave officers permission to search his home, and more evidence emerged. Officers found a pawn slip for jewelry the victim had left in the vehicle. Detectives then accompanied the victim to the pawn shop where he positively identified the jewelry as his, Baker said.

And with that, Engelsman and his brother-in-law cut down the investigators' work load. Engelsman was arrested on suspicion of grand theft auto and possession of stolen property.

Police continue to search for Montanez, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

"I'm happy when they provide us with the evidence,' Baker said. "They found a camera and decided to take a few photos. They are not at the top of the food chain as far as intelligence.'

December 13, 2005