Bike Thieves Caught Red-handed - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

SANTA CRUZ, Calif.-  Santa Cruz Police say in the last 24 hours two more bicycle theft suspects were caught in the act during two separate incidents.

On Wednesday evening, 19 year old Zachary Bernal was seen cutting a lock from a bicycle that was secured to a bike rack in front of the Civic Auditorium.

An accomplice stood guard while Bernal cut the lock. Witnesses called police and officers patrolled the area and found Bernal several blocks away with the stolen bicycle.  Bernal also had a red boys BMX style bicycle that his accomplice was riding, the other suspect was not around.

Then on Thursday morning about 1 a.m. security officers at the Boardwalk found 31 year old Jeremy Ochoa cutting a bike lock off a rack at the Boardwalk. Three security guards were able to stop Ochoa and hold him until officers could arrive to make the arrest.

Police credit the watchful eye of witnesses and immediate reports to the police. Five bicycle theft suspects have now been caught red-handed in the last week.