Stolen car found after nearly 4 months

A 44-year-old man was arrested on Friday on the beach side of Lower Base for allegedly renting a car last Aug. 5 and never returning it.

Gregorio Omar Lieto was arrested on charges of theft of vehicle and criminal mischief.

Police said Lieto admitted renting the car for a day, that he never returned it, and had planned to use it until he gets caught.

The owner of U Save Car Rental called the police himself on Friday at noon after finding the stolen black Toyota Corolla with license plate ACR-766 parked at the beach side of Lower Base.

Lieto’s bail was set yesterday at $10,000 cash; preliminary hearing will be on Dec. 7 at 9am.

Assistant public defender Tillman Clark was appointed as counsel for Lieto. Assistant attorney general Chester Hinds appeared for the government.

Police said that Lieto rented the Toyota Corolla from U Save Car Rental in Garapan for a $100 security deposit and $50 for a one-day rental fee last Aug. 5.

Traffic investigator Norris Kwon stated in his report that Lieto did not return the car, prompting the owner of U Save Car Rental to file a theft of service complaint with the Department of Public Safety against Lieto last Aug. 16. It was police officer Jason Tarkong who entertained the complaint.

A U Save Car Rental agent called the cell phone number listed by Lieto on the rental agreement several times, but no one answered.

On Friday, the U Save Car Rental owner called DPS at 12:35pm and reported that he found the car at the beach side of Lower Base.

Kwon immediately responded to the area and found the car, operated by Lieto. Kwon said that Lieto confessed at the location.

The car was found to have a broken right side view mirror, missing rear bumper cover, and damaged left side tail lamp and front bumper cover.

Kwon said Lieto admitted damaging the rear bumper cover during a family gathering when a family member hit the car with a four-wheeler. Lieto was then arrested.