Vehicle Stolen in Brea Recovered in Murrieta

A 19-year-old Murrieta man and a 16-year-old friend were arrested Monday when police found that the car they were driving in was stolen.

Christopher Leeper, 19, was arrested on possession of stolen property. His accomplice, whose name was not released because he is a minor, was arrested on auto theft, said Murrieta Police Sgt. Ron Driscoll. The vehicle was reported stolen in Brea March 2.

The boy was also arrested on suspicion of stealing a credit card from a family member, Driscoll said.

Murrieta Police Officer Ed Vasquez spotted the vehicle, a 1996 Nissan Maxima, in the Applebee's parking lot Monday shortly before 9 p.m. Vasquez stopped the car for a traffic violation and found the suspects inside.

Investigators discovered the car was reported stolen by a family member and arrested the two. They also found a credit card they believe the teen stole from a grandparent. The minor was wanted on an arrest warrant for an unrelated incident of car theft, according to Driscoll.

Leeper had a stolen cell phone on him and was arrested for possessing stolen property. The phone belonged to a relative, Driscoll said.

"The family member was contacted by officers and requested charges be filed against Leeper for the theft," Driscoll said.

The teen was processed at the Murrieta Police Department and later transported to Southwest Juvenile Hall where he was released to its custody. Leeper was booked at Southwest Detention Center.