Fresno Police arrest alleged car thief

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Officers showed up at the apartment of a man they say is a serial car thief. He lives on Maple Avenue near Florence.

Investigators with a new task force called the "Career Criminal Auto Theft Team" found stolen car parts and other valuable items they say were taken in car thefts and residential burglaries. Officers say they arrested 23-year-old Hugo Espinoza on several felony charges. They say he even had evidence on him when they entered the apartment.

Tim Tietjen, with the Fresno Police Department said, "The suspect, had a, which is interestingly enough, a shaved key on his person when we made the arrest, and it's as easy as walking up, putting a shaved key in the vehicle and driving off. And there's evidence of more shaved keys being produced inside the residence as well."

Espinoza has been arrested three other times within just the past month. Police say the task force will focus on repeat offenders. The team was launched after auto theft jumped 50 percent in one year.