- The Fresno Bee
Wednesday, Mar. 20, 2013 | 04:50 PM
The Fresno Police Department's auto theft unit arrested 18 people over the last three days on suspicion of stealing vehicles, said Sgt. Tim Tiejten.
The department has been working to identify the cause of a recent spike in auto thefts in the southeast Fresno area, Tiejten said.
During the latest raid on Wednesday, officers identified a crew that they believe are responsible for stealing up to 20 vehicles.
Eight people were arrested between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at a home near Barton and Inyo avenues including a Bulldog gang member who drove a vehicle in reverse, hitting a patrol car with an officer inside, Tiejten said. The officer was not injured.
