SAN MATEO—On Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 1:35 a.m., San Mateo Police found a stolen car with four individuals in it on Lago Street and South Norfolk Street.
Police set a deflation device on the car, preventing the thieves from getting away. When the quartet was running, they dumped but later recovered a stolen gun from Las Vegas. The thieves managed to continue on Highway 92. One teenage boy eventually surrendered. 19-year-old Albert Mercado from Hayward attempted to run off but was later apprehended as well. Still, two thieves remained at-large.
On Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 11:02 p.m. on 31st Avenue and East Sailer Drive, the second car theft in ten hours occurred. The car was recovered on South El Camino Real near West 25th Avenue.
Both the male driver and passengers in the car ran off, leaving two teenage girls behind. The trio was later apprehended. The driver was identified as 19-year-old Silas Willis from San Jose while his passengers were two 16-year-old teenage boys-one is from East Palo Alto, and the other from Stockton.
Searching the car, police discovered an unloaded ‘ghost gun,’ and a loaded extended magazine, containing twenty-three rounds under the driver’s seat.
Therefore, police apprehended, booking Willis in San Mateo County Jail and charging him with possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of an unregistered firearm, not having the DOJ requirement for a serial number for a firearm, being a previous ward of the court and possessing a firearm, possession of a firearm with altered or obliterated serial number and active warrant.
The teenage boys were also apprehended, booking them in Hillcrest Juvenile Facility, charging them with possession of a stolen vehicle, being a minor in possession of a firearm and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.
