GPS helps San Leandro police track down stolen commercial truck

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. -- Technology helped San Leandro officers quickly find and arrest two men on suspicion of commercial vehicle theft Monday, police said.

The owner of a local electrical construction company called police around 2 p.m. to report the theft, which had just occurred. Because the truck had GPS, the owner was able to track the truck, which was being driven toward Oakland, police said.

Officers and detectives responded immediately and found the truck in the parking lot of the Coliseum Flea Market in Oakland, police said.

They watched as two suspects, later identified as Leroy Silva, 48, and Robert Barton, 54, both of San Leandro, allegedly unloaded tools from the truck and put them into an SUV, according to police.

Detectives followed the pair as they drove the SUV to a retail strip mall near High Street, police said. They nabbed the suspects in the strip mall, according to police.

One of the men tried to run away but officers quickly apprehended him, police said.

"The implementation of GPS technology and the swift response by officers greatly contributed to locating the stolen truck," San Leandro police Lt. Isaac Benabou said in a statement.

"In this case, we were able to recover the victim's stolen vehicle and tools, and arrested two suspects," Benabou said.