By Jim Emerson
NOVATO — One suspect implicated in a store burglary in Novato was arrested after crashing
a stolen getaway vehicle. Jeremy V. Fong, a 26-year-old Oakland resident, remains in
custody at Marin County Jail in lieu of $70,000 bond. His accomplices remain at large.
Novato officers responded September 28 to a burglary in progress at a store on Diablo
Avenue. Officers arrived on the scene shortly after 3 a.m. Novato police said in a prepared
statement. “Approximately five suspects and two vehicles were involved.”
The storefront was extensively damaged. Officers saw two suspect vehicles fleeing from the
scene. “Video evidence confirms that one of the suspect vehicles drove into the storefront to
(commit) the burglary.”
An officer pursued one of the getaway vehicles onto southbound U.S. Highway 101. The
pursuit was aborted in the interest of public safety. An alert with descriptions of both getaway
vehicles was sent to neighboring agencies.
A California Highway Patrol officer saw one of the getaway vehicles traveling eastbound on
Interstate 580 in San Rafael. CHP followed the suspect vehicle into Contra Costa County,
where the driver crashed in Richmond.
Fong who was the only suspect inside the vehicle attempted to flee on foot. CHP
nevertheless arrested Fong at 3:20 a.m., near the Bayview Avenue off-ramp. Fong was
booked on open charges. His charges include vehicle theft, burglary, hit and run, conspiracy
to commit crime, and vandalism.
Stolen property from the store was recovered from the vehicle that was stolen in Oakland.
Other suspects remain outstanding. Anyone with information can contact Novato police at
415-897-4361.
