Shops in Atascadero, Morro Bay burglarized
Chris Casas.
–On Tuesday, at approximately 1 a.m., Atascadero Police officers responded to an alarm at Auto Zone, located at 8195 El Camino Real. Officers arrived on scene and located a broken front window to the business. Officers discovered vehicle batteries had been stolen from the business and began an investigation.
Approximately an hour later, Morro Bay Police Department responded to an alarm at a similar business in their jurisdiction. Another burglary was discovered with similar items being stolen. Video surveillance was reviewed by that agency and a “be on the lookout” was placed with local agencies for a vehicle involved in the burglary.
Deputies with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office located a vehicle matching the description provided by Morro Bay PD traveling on Highway 41 near Atascadero Avenue in the City of Atascadero. A traffic stop on the vehicle was conducted with Atascadero PD units assisting. The occupants were removed from the vehicle at gunpoint and detained. Further investigation revealed stolen property from both the Atascadero and Morro Bay burglaries was in the vehicle. Both suspects were taken into custody by Atascadero PD.
Mario Aquino
The suspects were identified as Mario Aquino, 28 years old and Chris Casas, 20 years old, both Fresno, California residents. Aquino and Casas were booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail for Burglary, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property and misdemeanor warrants.
Follow up investigation is being conducted by both the Morro Bay and Atascadero Police Department.
