A woman was arrested after allegedly stealing an Arleta taco vendor’s van that was recovered by police at a motel in North Hills after some help from an Instagram tipster.
Betty Ramirez, of Betty’s Tacos, said she filed a police report and posted the van’s license plates on Instagram after it was stolen Monday in the northeast San Fernando Valley neighborhood. Later that day, Ramirez said she saw someone driving the van and tried to follow it, but soon lost track of the vehicle.
The search was rekindled when a neighbor responded to her social media post, saying they saw it in the motel parking lot.
The woman suspected of stealing the truck was taken into custody at the motel. Video appeared to show the van leaving the parking area just before a police SUV pulls up to stop the driver. A woman exited the van and surrendered to officers.
The truck was missing at least $2,000 in equipment, Ramirez said.