CLEARLAKE >> A Clearlake man was arrested this week for possessing over 100 movies reportedly stolen from a Redbox kiosk near his worksite earlier in April.
According to Clearlake Police Sgt. Tim Hobbs, about 200 movies were stolen from inside the rental machine located at the Carl’s Jr on Dam Road on Tuesday, April 10.
Then on Tuesday of this week, Hobbs arrested 35-year-old Jason Paul Mifsud, of Clearlake, after he was found with 140 stolen movies where he resided. The officer said Mifsud knew the disks were illegally taken but denied stealing them. In a majority of the cases, the man had painted over the barcodes in an attempt to disguise them.
The value of the stolen movies recovered amounted to $3,570, Hobbs said.
Mifsud was found around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday after Hobbs responded to a disturbance call in the 15800 block of 30th Avenue. There he made contact with the Clearlake man who was involved in the disturbance and was said to be armed with a firearm.
During the investigation, Hobbs explained, he discovered that Mifsud was illegally camping in a tent on the property. It was there that the officer conducted a search of the tent and found the Redbox movies.
Hobbs learned that he worked at the Carl’s Jr where the machine that was broken into was located.
As a result, he was booked into the Lake County Jail for felony possession of stolen property. His bail stands at $15,000.
