In re M.S. CA4/3

FACTS

Minor and a companion were walking through a gated residential community in Irvine, California, when a household employee observed them trying to enter her employer’s vehicle. The employee called out to her employer (the victim), who ran outside and saw minor and his companion running away. The victim gave chase and apprehended minor. When the police arrived, they obtained minor’s consent to search his cell phone text history, and found text messages between the two suspects in which they discussed coming to the neighborhood to steal. The minor stated he had seen an iPod cord in the vehicle, and had reached inside through an open passenger window, when a “lady yelled at them and they ran off.” The minor admitted he and his companion had come to that neighborhood for the sole purpose of looking for valuables in vehicles to steal. He also admitted he had been doing this once a week, the last item he stole was an iPhone, he had stolen two bicycles within the last three to four weeks, and he still had possession of the stolen bicycles.

DISCUSSION

Upon our independent review of the record, we are unable to detect any error. Appointed counsel suggested that we consider whether…