Suspected bike thief captured in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Police say they’ve arrested a man suspected of stealing a bicycle from a Soquel Avenue business and trying to steal a woman’s purse.

Earlier this month, the police department released video surveillance footage of a man stealing a bike. They said the man then rode the stolen bike past a woman walking on the sidewalk and tried to grab her purse. The woman was able to hold on to her bag and suffered only minor bumps, according to Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark.

Officers were able to identify the suspect as 25-year-old Miguel Angel Sanchez and they put out fliers to other local law enforcement agencies. Capitola police spotted Sanchez Wednesday and turned him over to Santa Cruz Police.

Sanchez has a fair amount of history with both police departments, according to Clark. At the time of Wednesday’s arrest, Sanchez was found with several items police believe were stolen. He’s been booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on suspicion of several charges.