Carjacking Update

On August 20, 2023, at about 1:45 PM, a Chico Police Officer located a stolen vehicle in the area of Dayton Road and Hegan Lane. The vehicle was taken during a carjacking that occurred on August 18th, 2023, at the Safeway Gas Station on Mangrove Avenue. During the incident, the suspect had brandished a firearm at the victim. The vehicle then fled the scene. As the officer attempted to contact the stolen vehicle and two occupants, the vehicle fled from the officer. A pursuit was then initiated. Several Chico Police Officers responded to the area and assisted in the pursuit. Ultimately, the pursuit was terminated when the traffic conditions and the danger to the public made the pursuit no longer safe to continue. Officers then discontinued the pursuit.

Several officers remained in the area after the conclusion of the pursuit. This is a common practice for officers to do. The purpose of this is to potentially locate the abandoned stolen vehicle in an area where after the pursuit was terminated. Several citizens flagged down officers in the area and indicated the vehicle was possibly abandoned near Annie’s Glen in Lower Bidwell Park. Officers arrived at that location and located the vehicle, which was abandoned.

Officers immediately set up a perimeter around the location to search for the occupants of the vehicle. During this time, a UAS (Unmanned Aerial System, also known as a drone) was deployed, as well as a Chico Police tracking K9. An extensive search was conducted of the surrounding area for the occupants; however, they were not located. The vehicle was processed for any evidence and was ultimately released to the owner at the scene.

Currently, there is no further updated suspect information. The investigation is ongoing and officers will be following up on any potential leads or information.

Anyone with information related to this crime is asked to contact the Chico Police Department at (530) 897-4911 and reference Case #23-005438.

Location: Hegan Lane/Dayton Road

Victim: Withheld

Suspect: Unknown

Supervisor: OIC Trey Reid

Watch Commander: Lt. Jeff Durkin

Original

On August 18 at 3:54 a.m., the Chico Police Dispatch Center received a call of a Carjacking/Robbery which had occurred at the Safeway Gas Station at 720 Mangrove Avenue 45-minutes prior. The caller stated he had been fueling his vehicle at the gas pumps when he was approached by the suspect, who demanded property from him. The suspect brandished a firearm at the victim, stole his property and left in the victim’s vehicle.

Due to the delay in the reporting of the crime, responding officers were unable to locate the suspect or the victim vehicle. The suspect was described as a thin, white male adult, approximately 5’7” tall wearing a red hat, a sweater, and denim jeans. The victim’s vehicle is a silver 2020 Honda Civic, California Lic# 8UTA366.

The suspect and victim vehicle were last seen northbound on Cohasset Road at East Avenue at 3:25 a.m.

Anyone with information related to this crime is asked to contact the Chico Police Department at (530) 897-4911 and reference Case #23-005438

Location: 700 block of Mangrove Avenue

Victim: Withheld

Suspect: Unknown

Supervisor: OIC R. Wright 56

Commander: Lt. T. Tupper L7