Man arrested after crime spree in Prunedale, found in stolen truck with stolen mail

A man has been arrested after going on a crime spree in Prunedale.

According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, deputies got a call around 4:18 p.m. Sunday about a 2018 GMC Truck stolen from a driveway at a home on Eagle Way in Prunedale.

Deputies then learned the truck had OnStar and they were able to use it to track the truck to Oak Hills Estates.

They found the truck on Maul Oak at Charter Oak Boulevard with a large boat in tow worth more than $100,000.

Deputies then arrested 29-year-old John Gonzalez from Madera. The Sheriff’s Office said Gonzalez was the only person in the truck. Deputies also found several pieces of stolen mail from Prunedale and Salinas.

The Sheriff’s Office said Gonzalez drove another stolen car from Salinas to Prunedale. While he was in Prunedale, a resident noticed him acting suspicious and called 911 as Gonzalez went to different homes.

That’s when Gonzalez took the GMC truck and drove through a fence, then then went to Oak Hills where he started to steal more mail. Deputies said he saw a boat in the backyard of another home on Cockle Bur and also stole the boat. While he was trying to drive away with the boat in tow he hit the house and ripped out the gas main causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Deputies found natural gas leaking from the area when they arrived. The neighborhood was temporarily evacuated.

The Sheriff’s Office says Gonzalez was found with stolen mail from Meadow View Circle, Boronda Road, Damian Way and Cockle Bur Circle.

He is in the Monterey County Adult Detention Facility for several charges.