On June 1, 2018 a group of Officers were assigned to work at the Pacheco High School Graduation when they were alerted that someone was tampering with vehicles in the parking lot.

When the Officers got to the parking lot, they noticed several vehicles had been vandalized with spray paint graffiti. Officers began checking the rest of the parking lot and located 19-year-old Josiah Collins, of Dos Palos, as he was spray painting a vehicle. After Collins was placed under arrest, Officers discovered approximately 33 vehicles which had been vandalized.

Collins was booked into the Los Banos Police Department Jail, pending $5,000.00 bail, charged with felony vandalism. The Police Department would like to thank the concerned citizens who took the time to report this incident.

Anyone who was victimized during this incident but has not had the opportunity to make a police report may call the department at (209) 827-7070. If you have already filed a police report but need to get your vehicle repaired, please don’t forget to provide a copy of the vehicle repair estimate to us.

To leave an anonymous crime tip call (209) 827-7070, ext. 288. If you have access to a computer and the internet you can also leave an anonymous tip at the Police Department’s web page at www.losbanos.org. At the bottom of the “Contact” page simply click on the “report graffiti and other crime” link or contact the Merced Area Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1-855-725-2420, or at www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org