A routine patrol in Healdsburg ended up with the arrest of a Petaluma man accused of driving a stolen car out of San Rafael. It really highlights how closely law enforcement agencies across Marin County and the North Bay now work together to track suspected vehicle thefts.
This incident stretched from the streets of San Rafael to a busy gas station in Healdsburg. It’s a reminder to folks from Mill Valley to Novato that stolen cars can cross county lines fast — and staying alert still matters for public safety.
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From San Rafael to Healdsburg: How a Stolen Car Was Tracked
The case started in San Rafael, Marin County’s largest city and a key spot along Highway 101. Police there got a report about a red sedan that had been stolen, the kind of thing that can happen anywhere from Terra Linda to the Canal and end up miles away.
That same red sedan later appeared in Healdsburg, north of Marin in Sonoma County. Officers were patrolling along Healdsburg Avenue near Dry Creek Road, not far from Big John’s Market, when they spotted the car at the Healdsburg Gas Mart.
The vehicle matched the description of the sedan reported stolen out of San Rafael. An officer recognized it right away.
Spotting the Vehicle at a Healdsburg Gas Station
When officers first saw the car at the gas station, nobody was inside. That detail threw a wrench into things, because they had to figure out what happened before making any arrest.
Witnesses at the scene later told police that a man had driven the red sedan into the station shortly before officers arrived. Moments later, officers saw a man — later identified as Juan Munozramirez, 30, of Petaluma — walking away from the vehicle.
In situations like this, whether it’s a Healdsburg parking lot or a San Anselmo side street, officers depend on sharp observation and solid witness statements to connect a suspect to a car.
Key Fob Raises Questions During Police Encounter
As they approached and started talking with Munozramirez, officers noticed something important: he was holding the key fob to the red sedan. For investigators from San Rafael to Corte Madera, that kind of evidence often becomes the backbone of a stolen car case.
Munozramirez couldn’t explain why he had the key fob for the car that was reported stolen out of San Rafael. That inconsistency, along with witness accounts and the stolen-vehicle report, led officers to arrest him on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle.
Booking and Detention in Sonoma County
Officers took Munozramirez into custody at the scene and brought him to the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. The alleged theft started in San Rafael, but booking happened in Sonoma County, which just goes to show how crime can move along the Highway 101 corridor.
For people in towns like Fairfax, Tiburon, Belvedere, and Ross, it’s a reminder that a stolen car in one place might show up in another, sometimes within an hour. Agencies in Marin County share information with Sonoma, Napa, and others to track down stolen vehicles and suspects.
What Marin County Drivers Should Know About Vehicle Theft
This case started in San Rafael and ended in Healdsburg, but the takeaway is the same from Mill Valley to Novato. Vehicle theft is still mostly opportunistic, and taking a few simple precautions can help.
Basic Steps to Protect Your Vehicle
Law enforcement agencies across Marin County consistently recommend that drivers:
It’s easy for longtime Marin residents to think vehicle theft only happens in big cities. Still, cases that start in San Rafael, move along regional highways, and end in places like Healdsburg remind us that even tight-knit communities aren’t immune.
So, whether you’re driving near the bay in Belvedere or winding through redwoods by Fairfax, it’s worth staying alert. Lock up, keep an eye out, and don’t hesitate to call the police if something feels off. That’s how we keep Marin just a little bit safer for everyone.
Here is the source article for this story: Man Stops For Gas In Wine Country, Leaves In Handcuffs: Police
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