How a Merced physician assistant helped police recover stolen cars, including her own
As an ophthalmology physician assistant, Stephanie Schick spends her days detecting diseases and helping preserve and restore the vision of patients in Merced.
Schick, 36, may have missed her calling as a detective.
“I kind of feel like I would have been a great detective,” she said. “I can detect diseases. I can also detect stolen property. I think you have to see the big picture, but you also have to look at the details. I think I’m able to do both.”
In 2024, there were 470 vehicles stolen in Merced, according to the Merced Police Department. Schick helped lead to the recovery of three of those cars.
“We rely on our citizens to solve crime a lot of the time,” Merced Police Sgt. Christian Lupian said. “If you live in a neighborhood, you know what cars are frequent to that area. You know what your neighbors cars look like. If you see a car that doesn’t belong, it’s typically because it doesn’t belong.”
According to Lupian, many stolen cars are usually dumped in neighborhoods after the vehicle has been involved in a crime such as a shooting, robbery, or a hit-and-run or if the thieves stole the vehicle just to take it for a joy ride.
One of the vehicles Schick helped recover was a car that looked out of place. The vehicle was parked near a patient’s house and after asking neighbors and caretakers it was clear the car didn’t belong to anybody in the neighborhood.
Schick phoned the police and it turned out the car was stolen and used in a high-speed chase.
“It takes a community to really help fight the crime, not just the policemen,” Schick said.
Tips to prevent auto theft
According to Lupian, 390 of the 470 vehicles stolen in Merced were recovered. However, Lupian says it’s about a 50% chance the vehicle is going to be recovered in similar condition.
Often vehicles are stripped for certain parts, tires are taken and property inside the vehicle is stolen.
“It’s recommended to use alarms, steering wheel locks, and always lock your cars,” Lupian said. “Theft often occurs when cars are left running or unlocked, especially in the morning. People will warm up their cars and leave them running unoccupied.”
Lupian says they have seen a 56% decrease in vehicle theft so far this year with 45 cars stolen in Merced in January and February with 40 of those being recovered.
Lupian said a big reason for the drop in auto theft is Kias were particularly targeted due to a USB ignition issue, which has been addressed by a recall.
On the case
In 2020, Schick, who graduated from Merced High School in 2006, began working full time in the same ophthalmology office her father Dr. Harold Schick had been working in for 38 years. She had started working part time there in 2018.
One of the vehicles Stephanie Schick helped recover was her own. It was stolen from out in from of her home last summer and a few weeks later she spotted someone driving the car around town.
Schick hopped into her father’s car and started following her car. She phoned the police to let them know she had her car in sight, but they were unable to send an officer at the time.
She eventually lost the vehicle at a stop light. Her car was eventually recovered by the police a few weeks later close to where she spotted it.
If you find your stolen car
Lupian said he doesn’t advise people to follow their stolen vehicles for safety reasons and if you do locate your own stolen vehicle and it’s unoccupied, call the police.
“Report it and let us know where it’s at,” Lupian said. “Don’t touch it. Don’t go anywhere near it, because we ultimately arrive to the scene to print it or dust it for any prints.”
Lupian said there’s been times when people have just driven their vehicle home without informing the police, forgetting that the car is still in the system as a stolen vehicle.
Helping a friend
The other vehicle Schick helped recovered belonged to the mother of Merced City council member Sarah Boyle, who was a high school classmate.
After already helping recover her own stolen car, Schick let the Boyle family know she was on the case and they would find the car.
Sure enough, while heading to meet her dad, Schick saw a car that fit the description.
She backed up her car to get a photo of the license plate with her phone and sent a text to Sarah Boyle. After phoning the police, Schick was ready to stand guard by the vehicle.
“I think she just pays attention,” Boyle said. “You know, there’s so many people that just don’t pay attention. First she notices, ‘Hey, I don’t see this car ever,’ and it turns out to be a stolen car. Then it’s like, ‘I remember my friend’s mom’s car,’ and she finds another one.”
Schick’s ability to recover stolen vehicles has led to her having Merced Police captains and detectives contact numbers stored in her phone.
“I think it illustrates how much she truly cares about our community,” Boyle said.
