Carjacking reported in Chico; suspect arrested with help of smartphone
Chico police officer Peter Durfee detains a suspect, 30-year-old Barry Xaysana, following an alleged carjacking in Chico on Monday. Bill Husa — Enterprise-Record
Officer Peter Durfee inspects items from inside a vehicle that was taken during a alleged carjacking on Vallombrosa Avenue in Chico Monday morning, after it was recovered in a parking lot behind the Boot Barn on The Esplanade. A suspect was detained by police across the street.Bill Husa — Enterprise-Record
Chico >> A reported carjacking near Bidwell Park on Monday morning ended with the car’s owner shaken and a suspect in custody.
Police and fire crews responded to a report of a carjacking about 8:18 a.m. in the area of Vallombrosa and Madrone avenues, said Chico police Lt. Mike Nelson.
Nelson said a Chico woman had left her green Subaru Outback running near her home when a man jumped pushed her out of the way and drove away.
The woman, Nelson said, tried to stop the theft, grabbing onto the car and taking a tumble. She was not seriously hurt.
“It looks like she’s going to shake it off,” he said.
About a half-hour later, a California Highway Patrol officer found the Subaru parked near the Boot Barn at The Esplanade and East Avenue, Nelson said. Police detained the suspected car thief, identified as Barry Xaysana, 30, shortly afterward at the Jack in the Box on The Esplanade, which is across the street from the Boot Barn.
Xaysana, who was found in the eatery’s bathroom, was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft after he was identified by the victim as the man who stole her car, Nelson said. Xaysana also was allegedly found to be in possession of the victim’s property.
It wasn’t yet clear if Xaysana also could face a carjacking charge.
“We’ve still got some interviewing to do,” Nelson said.
Nelson said officers found the woman’s Subaru after tracking her smartphone that was left in the vehicle.
“That’s how we found it,” he said, adding, “As luck would have it her phone had some sort of GPS on it, and so we were able to track her car.”
Nelson said police suspect a woman associated with Xaysana also was involved in the alleged car theft.
He said the woman, who police have not yet located or identified, could be driving a silver 2012 Honda Accord that also was reported stolen.
“When the guy was taking (the Subaru), the woman in the silver Honda took off,” Nelson said.
No serious injuries were reported and no weapons were involved.
Police said officers are still trying to find the Honda reported stolen out of Chico. Its California license plate number is 7ABV895.
