A Top Five Auto Thief is Behind Bars

One of Fresno’s top five auto thieves is behind bars.

35 year old Rodney Jones was arrested at a motel in southwest Fresno.

He was number five on the list of most active auto thieves in the city.

He was arrested five times last year.

Fresno police say he's a meth addict who victimizes others to feed his drug habit.

Rodney Jones had four warrants out for his arrest when he was taken into custody Monday morning.

A Crime Stoppers tip lead police to the parkland motel in central Fresno where he was staying.

“Inside the room we found evidence of identity theft. He had a book full of different names and people's information,” said Sgt. Tim Tietjen with the Fresno police department’s auto theft team.

Police also found tools of the trade for a car thief.

“There's numerous burglary tools auto theft tools in the room, gloves, screwdrivers, torches -everything that you'd need to break into things,” Tietjen said.

Police say this arrest is significant because every time one of the top five is behind bars fewer cars are stolen.

“From maybe ten a day down to four down to two,” Tietjen said.

There are still four more accused car thieves on the list and on the loose.

Three of the top five are women.

“The females are taking the leadership role in these crews and they're becoming very active and actually mentoring new auto thieves which to us is incredible to see,” Tietjen said. 

Many of the car thieves are stealing cars all around FresnoCounty.

Rodney Jones is being held on more than 280-thousand dollars bail.