A man was arrested Thursday after officers responded to a report of a possible vehicle theft in progress and later determined several work tools had been taken from a locked vehicle, according to the Fresno Police Department.

Officers were called to East Clay Avenue and North Bond Street, where they located and attempted to detain Joseph Martinez. Police said Martinez fled after officers gave lawful commands to stop, leading to an arrest for resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer.

Martinez was identified by a witness as the person who removed a lawn mower, string trimmer, hedge trimmer and leaf blower from the back of a GMC Yukon parked nearby, police said. The owner of the tools told officers the vehicle had been locked and that no one had permission to take the items.

Police said Martinez was on active PRCS for a prior conviction of vehicle theft and had multiple prior larceny convictions. Based on the investigation, officers said the incident constituted burglary and theft with two or more prior convictions.

A probation officer also found Martinez in violation of PRCS, according to police.

Martinez was identified through photographs and fingerprints prior to being booked into the Fresno County Jail, police said.

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