Joint Investigation Leads to Arrest in Dirt Bike and Jet Ski Thefts

Joint Investigation Leads to Arrest in Jet Ski and Dirt Bike Thefts

Springfield, Mass. — On Wednesday August 27th at approximately 8:45 a.m., members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit (FIU) and United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested 21-year-old Erick Hernandez on the 100 block of Pearl Street in connection with dirt bike and jet ski thefts.  

On July 23rd, officers responded to a storage facility on the 200 block of Page Boulevard for suspicious activity.  Officers received information about a jet ski and trailer that had been stolen out of South Hadley that morning and were now on the storage facilities property.  

South Hadley Police began investigating and were granted a warrant for the storage unit.  The stolen jet ski and trailer were inside the unit.  In addition, a second stolen trailer and jet ski were also found inside.  They were reported stolen out of Connecticut.   

Members of the Springfield Police Auto-Theft Unit began investigating with South Hadley Detectives along with the Connecticut State Police and Westfield Detectives.  Erick Hernandez was identified as a suspect.  Detectives applied for and were granted a warrant for his arrest.  

Investigators reviewing video observed Hernandez also store two stolen dirt bikes in the storage unit.  Hernandez returned with another suspect and left on the dirt bikes.  One of those dirt bikes was involved in a crash in Springfield on July 29th.  The rider was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.  The rider will receive a criminal complaint.  

On August 27th, Detectives located Hernandez on the 100 block of Pearl Street, and he was placed under arrest.  

This is an ongoing investigation.  

21-year-old Erick Hernandez of Springfield is charged with:

• Arrest Warrant
  - Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Four Counts)
  - Receiving Stolen Property More than $1200 (Three Counts)