Suspect Arrested In Novato After Automatic License Plate Reader Discovers Stolen Car

NOVATO (CBS SF) -- Officers arrested a suspect after a patrol car equipped with an automatic license plate reader discovered a stolen vehicle with stolen plates Saturday in Novato, police said.

At about 11:50 a.m. on Saturday, a Novato police officer was on patrol in the 1700 block of Grant Avenue near the Downtown Novato Shopping Center when his automated license plate reader alerted him that a license plate reported to be stolen from a 2004 Toyota in Oakland, was on a vehicle parked on Grant Avenue.

The license plate had been placed on a 2007 Range Rover, leading the officer to run a records check on the Range Rover's vehicle identification number. The officer discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of San Francisco.

The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Novato resident William Millan was contacted near the stolen vehicle. Police said evidence linking him to the stolen vehicle led to his arrest.

Millan was arrested and booked into Marin County Jail.