Two men arrested in connection with truck theft after VAC change in Vacaville

(KRON) – Two men have been arrested for committing multiple car thefts and changing their VINs, according to the Vacaville Police Department.

According to the Vacaville PD, the city saw an increase in vehicle thefts between December 2023 and January 2024. Chevrolet Silverado and 2000 GMC Sierra pickup trucks were primarily targeted. VPD Crime Impact Team (CIT) detectives collected evidence from the stolen trucks and received search warrants for the two suspects.

On May 16, detectives from CIT, VICE and the Solano County Auto Theft Task Force served search warrants for Dunnigan resident Ricardo Elias-Corona, 27, and Edgar Olmedo, 27. years old, resident of Woodland.

During the search for Elias-Corona, detectives located a Chevrolet pickup truck stolen from Vacaville in December 2023. Detectives also located a dismantled engine and transmission that was found stolen from Vacaville in 2022 as well as several vehicle components stolen. Detectives forwarded charges of owning and operating a “chop shop” to the Yolo County Prosecutor’s Office for Elias-Corona.

According to Vacaville police, detectives arrested Elias-Corona as he drove to the residence in a Chevrolet Silverado. According to detectives' investigation, they discovered the vehicle's VIN had been swapped with that of a car that was stolen from Rocklin in 2016.

While executing the search warrant for Olmedo, detectives located a white Chevrolet Silverado leaving the residence and conducted a traffic stop of the truck. Olmedo was arrested and the truck was searched. Detectives learned the VIN had been changed on a vehicle stolen from Vacaville in December 2023.

Olmedo was arrested for his warrant, possession of a stolen vehicle and altering a vehicle's VIN.