Alleged Belmont Thieves Linked to Other Crimes

A man and woman after tampering with a car in Belmont then crashing onto the front lawn of a house in San Carlos earlier this month have been linked to other crimes in the Bay Area, Belmont police said today.

Pacifica residents Travis Castellanos, 21, and 19-year-old Danielle Lateur—also known as Danielle Gonzalez—are believed to have committed crimes between May 6-10 throughout San Mateo County, according to police.

More than 100 stolen items have been recovered from four different victims in Belmont, as well as six other victims in San Mateo, Redwood City, Hillsborough and Novato, police said.

Castellanos and Lateur have been charged with possession of stolen property as well as other charges in connection with the May 10 incident in which they were spotted entering an unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway of a home in the 3500 block of Hillcrest Drive about 4 a.m.

Castellanos and Lateur fled in a car as soon as officers arrived and refused to stop for the patrol unit, Belmont police Capt. Dan DeSmidt said.

Police followed Castellanos and Lateur, before they crashed onto the front lawn of a home in San Carlos.

Castellanos and Lateur suffered minor injuries. No one else was hurt.

In addition to possession of stolen property, Castellanos has been charged with five counts of theft with a prior conviction, three counts of grant theft, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance.

Lateur has also been charged with evading police as well as possession of stolen property.