Two arrested after conspiring to steal catalytic converter Sunday morning

On Sunday, July 9th, 2023, at 10:41 am, the Turlock Police Department was dispatched to a reported burglary in progress to a vehicle at Foster Farms, 717 W F St, Turlock.

While officers were responding, they were informed that the suspects had left in two different vehicles, a white 2013 Hyundai Sonata and a U-Haul truck.

Responding officers located both vehicles leaving the area and stopped them at Arco AMPM, 210 N Golden State Blvd.

Officers contacted and identified four subjects within the two vehicles, including Juan Aldaco, 25, of Modesto, and Alex Guajardo, 35, of Modesto.

When officers had their dispatcher run the four, they discovered that Guajardo was on searchable probation for buying or receiving a stolen vehicle and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

Officers began investigating and located a white 1995 GMC Sierra in the Foster Farms parking lot that appeared to have had its catalytic converter cut off. They spoke with a witness who stated that he had seen a man, later determined to be Aldaco, underneath the white Sierra possibly trying to take something. He also stated that he had see a different man, later identified as Guajardo, sitting in the U-Haul and acting as a lookout for Aldaco.

Eventually, officers searched the white Sonota that had been stopped and located the catalytic converter that had been stolen off of the white Sierra.

Aldaco and Guajardo were both arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center, Aldaco on charges of vandalism, conspiracy, and petty theft, and Guajardo on charges off conspiracy and violation of probation.

The other two subjects that were with Aldaco and Guajardo were released, while the stolen catalytic converter was returned to the victim.