Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On June 29, 2021, at about 1:50 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 4100 block of Sunny Circle in Cutten for the report of a car prowler.

Ethan James Maguire | HCSO.

Deputies arrived at the residence and located the suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Ethan James Maguire, being detained by residents outside. According to the residents, Maguire had been discovered sitting inside the residents’ vehicle without permission.

Maguire was found to have an active warrant for his arrest and was taken into custody without incident. During a search of Maguire and an associated backpack, deputies located multiple stolen electronics and miscellaneous property belonging to various victims throughout the Cutten area.

Maguire was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of grand theft (PC 487), possession of stolen property (PC 496(A)) and tampering with an automobile (VC 10852).

Car prowl, also known as theft from vehicles, is a crime of opportunity. An offender makes a decision to break into a vehicle based on a perception that there are items of value inside the vehicle, which makes the potential payoff worth the risk. A car prowl can be completed in a minute or less, and a significant number of these crimes occur between the hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Car prowl is one of the easiest crimes to prevent with increased awareness and a change in habits. The following steps will reduce the chances that your vehicle will be targeted:

  1. Always lock your vehicle, even if you are home.
  2. Keep the interior of your vehicle “showroom” clean. Never leave valuables in plain view. Offenders often break into vehicles for items such as gym bags because they assume there are electronic devices or other items inside.
  3. Hide chargers and accessories that indicate a GPS, mobile phone or other devices that support electronics.
  4. Remove garage door openers, key cards, and house or work keys from your car.
  5. Park your car in a well-lit area. Trim back trees and bushes that block the view of your vehicle from your house.

To report a vehicle burglary, car prowler or related criminal activity, please contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251.