Photo: Suspect Stephen Love| Redding PD
Image of stolen vehicle and tampered ignition | Redding PD
On April 24th, 2023, a Redding Police Officer made another arrest of Stephen Love, a 30-year-old man from Alabama, for driving a stolen vehicle in the area of Lake Boulevard and North Market Street. Love had been arrested and booked at the local jail six times since arriving in Redding in November 2022. Three of these arrests were made by the Redding Police Department for possession of a stolen vehicle.
On January 27th, 2023, Love was arrested in a stolen vehicle and released from custody in 14 hours. He was again arrested on April 18th, 2023, for possession of a stolen vehicle and released in 8 hours. His latest arrest on April 24th, 2023, resulted in his release after being booked in jail for just 8 hours.
The Redding Police Department has reported an increase in stolen vehicle incidents over the last two years. In 2021, the department received 497 reports of stolen vehicles, while in 2022, that number increased to 523. Changes in California laws in recent years have made it difficult to hold vehicle thieves accountable, resulting in most offenders being eligible for local jail time.
In August 2022, staffing shortages at the local jail resulted in the closure of an entire floor, making it even more difficult to hold habitual vehicle thieves accountable for their actions. The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office is currently working to hire qualified individuals to staff their facility.
On April 29th, 2023, officers discovered yet another stolen vehicle in the parking lot of Motel 6 on Bechelli Lane, with Love passed out in the driver’s seat. During the investigation, it was discovered that Love had stolen five vehicles since April 10th.
Love was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Shasta County Jail. The stolen vehicle was returned to its owner. The Redding Police Department continues to urge citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement agencies.
