Stolen, Distinct Rims Give Thief Away

The problem with stealing something unique, besides the criminal offense, is how easy it is to identify. Such was the case on Monday, July 22nd when a detective of the Tulare County Reduce Auto Theft Team spotted rims on a car matching the description of ones taken from a recently reported stolen vehicle.

Porterville Police detectives made contact with the male sitting in the driver’s seat of the parked vehicle on the 1300 block of North Mathew Street. Initially, the drive falsely identified himself, giving the name of a relative instead. However, he was soon confirmed as 32-year old Jaime Huizar of Porterville.

Huizar may have been trying to avoid police finding out about his three felony and two misdemeanor arrest warrants, two for felony assault with a deadly weapon. Not only did police find out about the warrants, but Huizar had drug paraphernalia in plain view in his vehicle.

A warranted search of Huizar’s home allowed officers to find the ammunition, burglary tools, and evidence of Huizar’s involvement in stripping vehicles. The rightful owner of the 24” inch rims not only identified the rims as belonging to him but noticed some of the stereo components Huizar had in his car also belonged to him.

Additionally, Huizar, a previously convicted felon, is linked to two other burglaries and three more vehicle thefts. He was booked into the Tulare County Jail. He is currently in custody at the Bob Wiley Detention Facility facing a slew of charges including, assault with a firearm, possession of firearm by a felon, corporal injury of spouse, child endangerment, petty theft, unlicensed driver, unlawful possess paraphernalia for smoking/injecting, unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle, giving false information to a police officer, person unlawfully possessing ammunition, and chop shop operation. His bail is set at $235,000.

Photo from the Porterville Police Department