By Mike Hazlip–
A man who vandalized the car wash at Pastor’s Valero gas station in Citrus Heights was spotted and arrested about two hours after the business asked the community for help in identifying the suspect.
Photographs posted on Facebook Monday at 3:50 p.m. from security cameras at Pastor’s Valero showed a suspect driving a black Ford LTD. The man allegedly attempted to rob the business, and caused damage to the car wash, according to the announcement.
“Have you noticed our car wash is down?” the announcement said. “It’s all because of this POS who vandalized and attempted theft on our property on Friday night at 9:05 p.m. We are very disheartened and would appreciate any help tracking this vehicle and thief down.”
The man’s vehicle was equipped with a police light, which he allegedly used to blind the security cameras during the attempted robbery, according to Pastor’s Valero. The business notified Citrus Heights police before reaching out to the public for help.
Citrus Heights police spokesman Jacob Chow told The Sentinel in a phone call Saturday the suspect was arrested after a witness identified the vehicle in a parking lot and notified Pastor’s Valero. The business then called police and officers arrested the suspect for felony vandalism.
Pastor’s Valero posted a followup on the arrest Monday, offering “A HUGE thank you to Citrus Heights PD to come all the way out to Orangevale to arrest these thieves!”
