Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office recovers $30,000 in stolen bikes, tools

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office said investigators recovered more than $30,000 in stolen bikes and tools from a homeless camp on Tuesday.

The sheriff's office said deputies were conducting a foot patrol at a protected habitat area where homeless camping is illegal.

It was there the deputies made the discovery into the stolen items.

Items of which the sheriff's office said included multiple mountain bikes, E-bikes, E-scooters and dozens of tools believed to have been stolen.

The sheriff's office said the thefts were taking place from the Arana Gulch area into the Live Oak community.

At the camp, deputies approached a man who was detained and arrested after a brief pursuit.

A social media post from the agency identifies the man as Joshua Morris.

Deputies said Morris had over 10 grams of fentanyl, drug packaging materials, cash and police scanners.

The sheriff's office said they're working to return the stolen items to their owners.

If you believe your property may be among the recovered items, please contact Detective Alex Spencer 831-454-7636 or email him at alexander.spencer@santacruzcountyca.gov.

Investigators said Morris is booked on multiple felony charges in connection to this investigation.