Suspect Arrested Following Package Theft Report 

December 31, 2025 – Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office officials report that on Monday, December 22, 2025, at approximately 1:16 p.m., deputies responded to the area of Toyon Court near Canyonview Drive for a report of theft. It was reported that a white van was seen stealing packages from a neighbor’s mailbox.

The owner of the packages also contacted deputies and provided photographs of the van taken from surveillance video. Deputies searched the area but were unable to locate the vehicle. The following day, deputies responded to the Ponderosa Hills area after receiving a report that the van had been seen.

Upon arrival, deputies located the van and conducted a traffic stop. Deputies contacted the driver, identified as 54-year-old Walter Thomas Watson, who admitted to stealing the packages. During a search of Watson’s vehicle, deputies located one of the stolen items, suspected methamphetamine, and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine.

A records check revealed Watson had two prior theft convictions, qualifying the current petty theft charge as a felony due to changes in the law under Proposition 36, which was approved by California voters in 2024.

Deputies’ investigation later led them to Watson’s residence, where the remaining stolen items were recovered, with the exception of some clothing items Watson was found to be wearing.

Watson was arrested and transported to the Dambacher Detention Center (DDC) where he was booked on the charges 666.1(A)(1) PC – Petty theft with two or more prior convictions. 496(A) PC - Possession of stolen property, 11364(A) HS – Possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and 11377(A) HS – Possession of a controlled substance.

We appreciate our community members for their vigilance which assisted deputies in identifying and locating the suspect. We continue to encourage community members to remain alert and report suspicious activity.

Source & photo: Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office