Lodian a suspect in ATM burglary attempt

Jan. 3—GALT — A Lodi man began his new year in handcuffs after the Galt Police Department says he burgled an ATM in that city and led officers on a short pursuit.

Galt police officers responded to a burglary alarm at a Golden 1 Credit Union ATM at 640 Carol Drive just before midnight on New Year’s Eve.

The alarm company told dispatch operators they had video surveillance footage of a man walking back and forth in front of the ATM, and that he had possibly spray-painted the surveillance camera’s lens, police said.

Upon arrival, officers say they saw a man flee the scene and get into the passenger seat of a burgundy BMW with no license plates parked on the shoulder of northbound Highway 99, just west of the ATM.

The driver fled north on the highway, but officers were able to stop the vehicle near intersection of the Twin Cities Road and East Stockton Boulevard, and both occupants were detained, police said.

Officers investigating on Carol Drive reported that the pair had entered the building’s main electrical cabinet and turned off the breaker, which in turn shut off the ATM’s power.

The men left a gas-powered concrete abrasive cutter when they fled the scene, officers said. One of the men cut the chain link fence at the rear of the property to gain easier access to the ATM and return to the vehicle, police said.

The driver was identified as 37-year-old Stockton resident Margarito Christo Reyes, and he was arrested on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy, possession of burglary tools, and a parole hold violation. His passenger was identified as 34-year-old Lodi resident Pedro Lopez Jr., who was arrested on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy, possession of burglary tools, and possession of a controlled substance.

Both were in possession of scanner applications monitoring law enforcement radio channels as well as two-way radios to communicate with each other, according to police.

They were booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail and are scheduled to be arraigned today.

The pair’s arrest does not appear to be connected with the string of restaurant burglaries that occurred in Galt on Monday morning.

Police said four men are believed to be responsible for all of the burglaries reported, which were caught on surveillance video footage.

The suspects wore hooded and baggy clothes, and arrived in a light-colored SUV, possibly an Acura RDX with no visible license plates.

Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call Galt detectives at 209-366-7010.

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