Authorities say the urge to steal from a former employer overcame two people who worked at a Valley car dealership.
Court records show that on April 16 two vehicles were stolen from Preferred Auto Sales near 12th Avenue and Bell Road. The thieves were recognized as former workers. Police later found the suspects asleep in one of the stolen cars.
Police said employees looked at surveillance video and recognized the couple as a pair of former contract workers.
Officials said 28-year-old Michael Anthony Brady and 22-year-old Marissa Joane Lopez stole a 2011 Acura TL and a 2007 Dodge Ram truck. Investigators said they were acquainted with the two and knew they like to frequent motels in the same area. Police sent out photos of the stolen vehicles and on April 19 got word that the Acura was parked at a motel in the area.
Police say they found the pair sleeping inside the stolen Acura.
The couple reportedly told police that the truck was at another motel near I-17 and Northern.
Lopez allegedly told the police that they, "wanted to go to California and needed a ride."
When asked why the pair took two vehicles instead of one, documents quote Lopez as saying, "one for each of us."
They are now both facing charges of burglary and car theft.
