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closeSaturday, Sep. 13, 2008
Turlock pair accused of stripping car for parts
Merced County sheriff's deputies arrested two Turlock residents early Friday for allegedly stripping parts from a stolen car.
Just after midnight, deputy Tim Smith noticed a car on a canal bank near Lateral 7 and Griffith Avenue in Delhi. He then saw another car driven into a nearby cornfield and found two teenagers hiding.
Rafael Chavez, 19, and a 17-year-old boy were allegedly taking all the valuable parts, sheriff's spokesman Tom MacKenzie said.
Investigators contacted the Turlock Police Department, which notified the car's owner, who didn't know it was missing.
Deputies found several CD decks inside the men's car and believe they had broken into other cars, MacKenzie said.
Chavez was booked into Merced County Jail on a suspicion of possessing stolen property and for stealing a car. His bail is set at $50,000. The teenager was arrested on the same charges and released to his parents.
--Scott Jason
