Dirt Bike Thief Arrested After Being Spotted by Police Drone Operator

On Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 10:28 pm, Turlock Police responded to an auto theft in progress at a residence in the 1000 block of Chestnut St.

The caller reported that his neighbor’s dirt bike was being stolen by a man who was walking it westbound on Chestnut St. As officers arrived in the area, they located the dirt bike dumped in a nearby alleyway, but the suspect wasn’t around.

Officer Ayala launched a drone from the Turlock Public Safety Facility and began searching the area from overhead, looking for anyone matching the suspect description provided by the caller. A short time later, Officer Ayala observed Raul Arias, 24, of Oxnard, riding a bicycle northbound on N Soderquist Rd approaching Fulkerth Rd. Officer Ayala led Officer Benner to Arias, who detained him in the 1800 block of Lial Ct.

Meanwhile, Officer Becerra had contacted the dirt bike’s owner and confirmed the theft. During a subsequent in-field show-up, the caller positively identified Arias as the suspect.

Arias initially refused to provide his name and date of birth, so he was arrested as John Doe. It should be noted that Arias wasn’t necessarily being nice to officers and kept making rude remarks. Arias also advised that he was going to go to prison at the end of the month. During transport, Arias became forthcoming about his identity.

Arias was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center for grand theft.

The dirt bike was returned to its rightful owner.