Three arrested in connection with at least a dozen Jeep thefts; vehicles driven into Mexico

Three suspects were arrested in connection with at least a dozen Jeep thefts in Carlsbad, police announced.

Most thefts occurred during late night hours and authorities determined that shortly after the thefts, the stolen Jeeps were driven into Mexico.

The suspects were identified as Jesus Lupian, 29, of San Diego; Omar Quezada, 22; and Antonio Sanchez, 24, both residents of Mexico,

They were tracked down through a surveillance operation by Carlsbad Police and the San Diego County Regional Auto Theft Task Force, which began with identifying the suspects using the city’s Automated License Plate Reader, or ALPR, technology.

On June 4, 2026, after several hours of surveillance investigators identified a Jeep they believed to have been stolen by the suspects in Hillcrest. The driver, Lupian, failed to yield and a pursuit ensued, according to Carlsbad police.

The suspect drove southbound on Interstate 5 at speeds of up to 100 mph. The pursuit ended in Chula Vista when Lupian lost control and rolled over near H Street and Broadway.

Lupian was taken into custody after medical evaluation. Quezada and Sanchez were arrested shortly afterward.

The three were charged on suspicion of vehicle theft, conspiracy to commit vehicle theft, and possession of burglary tools.

San Diego law enforcement agencies say they have seen an increase in car thefts involving newer-model Jeeps. In Carlsbad alone, at least 12 Jeeps have been reported stolen since August 2025.