CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police arrested a Clearlake Oaks man over the weekend after finding him prowling in an area where gas thefts had been reported and discovering he was in possession of stolen property.

Timothy Allen Lee Mitcham, 31, of Clearlake Oaks, was taken into custody early Saturday morning, according to Sgt. Rodd Joseph.

At about 4:43 a.m. Saturday, Clearlake Police officers responded to Brookdale Assisted Living at 14789 Burns Valley Road on a report of a person attempting to steal gasoline from the business’ transport van, Joseph said.

Joseph said an employee of the business called police when they spotted a person underneath the vehicle with a gas can.

There had been several recent thefts from vehicles in and around this area over previous nights. No arrests had been made in any of the previous cases, Joseph said.

Officers arrived and began checking the area. Though the suspect was not immediately located, a suspicious vehicle – a white 1998 GMC SUV – was found parked in the library parking lot adjacent to Brookdale Assisted Living, Joseph said. This vehicle had several similar gas cans in the rear cargo area. Officers conducted visual surveillance on the suspicious vehicle from a distance.

A short while later the suspicious vehicle was seen driving away from the library parking lot. As officers tried to move in behind the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle made several maneuvers as if it was going to flee, Joseph said.

Joseph said the vehicle pulled into the parking lot of RadioShack on Olympic Drive. The driver quickly exited the vehicle as the officers approached.

The driver was identified as Mitcham. A passenger in the vehicle, found to be on Post Release Community Supervision out of another county, was identified and later released at the scene without charges, Joseph said.

Mitcham denied any involvement in the gas siphoning incident. Joseph said Mitcham was found to have a suspended driver’s license. A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of paperwork and documents which had been reported stolen to the Clearlake Police Department on Jan. 21 from a locked vehicle in the 3800 block of Huntington Avenue.

Upon the conclusion of the investigation, Mitcham was arrested and charged with three misdemeanor charges including possession of stolen property, driving on a suspended license and prowling, Joseph said.

Joseph said Mitcham later was booked into the Lake County Jail and his vehicle was impounded at the scene.

Mitcham's bail was set at $5,000 and he later posted the required portion of it and was released, according to jail records.

Mitcham has not been connected to the other reports thefts in the area, Joseph said.

The Clearlake Police Department reminded residents to keep their vehicles locked and any valuable property hidden from view.

“We also encourage our residents to report suspicious activity,” Joseph said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Officer Mike Ray at 707-994-8251, Extension 504.