SPARKS -- The Sparks Police Department is asking for any information that the public has regarding multiple crimes that have occurred in the City of Sparks during the early morning hours of January 6, 2013.

Police had been investigating separate incidents, but further investigation reveals that several events may be linked. Many of these incidents are geographically close to each other, and are basically in the eastern and northeastern portions of Sparks.

Early Sunday morning at around 5:30, Sparks Police responded to the area of Express and Sabatino on a reported armed robbery. During that incident, two males robbed a victim of his car, which was a silver-colored Suzuki Sidekick.

The suspects are described as two possibly Tongan males, both wearing gray or white sweaters. The first suspect is described as 17-18 years of age, and the second is described as being 18-19 years of age. During this incident, those male suspects were in a vehicle described as a silver or gold colored older model Cadillac or similar vehicle.

That silver or gold colored car is now believed to be a 1977 Oldsmobile which was stolen from Howard and Rosemary in Sparks at an unknown time. The Oldsmobile was later recovered in the 1100 block of H St. in Sparks. When that vehicle was recovered, the keys to a Suburu which was stolen in Reno were found. That Suburu was recovered in the area of 2500 of Rosemary.

At around 6:30 a.m.., a dark colored Dodge Durango was stolen from the 1100 block of Rancho Mirage. At approximately 6:50 a.m.., Legends Security reported a dark colored SUV, possibly a Durango, appeared to be chasing or racing with a Suzuki Sidekick. The Suzuki struck a curb and became disabled in the area of E. Lincoln Way and Scheels Drive. It was the vehicle stolen in the armed robbery from Express and Sabatino.

Since the time of the Durango being stolen, Sparks Police have received two reports of vehicle burglaries in the 1100 block of Rancho Mirage. They are asking residents of that area to contact them if their car has been broken into.

At around 10 a.m.., the Dodge Durango stolen from Rancho Mirage was found parked in the apartment complex at 1100 15th St. Property from one of the vehicle burglaries on Rancho Mirage was found in the Durango. Contact was made with occupants of an apartment who allowed officers to enter but denied permission to search. Specific property from the Durango was seen in plain view in the apartment. A search warrant was requested, granted amd it was served.

19-year-old Manaloa Tonata was arrested. During questioning, Tonata made admissions to officers about his involvement in the case, and some property was recovered in his apartment.

Tonata was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, burglary, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, possession of stolen property and possession of a credit card without the owner's consent. His bail is currently set at $65,500.

The other occupants of the apartment to this point have been juveniles. Several of them were found to have been drinking, and were taken into custody. Their names and ages will not be released. However, the investigation into all of these incidents is continuing.

Yesterday officers of the Regional Gang Unit arrested Anthony Padilla in regards to this case.  During their investigation, the RGU developed probable cause to arrest Padilla for: Robbery with a Deadly Weapon, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Theft (Auto), Conspiracy to Committ Robbery. Padilla's bail is set at $90,000.00.

If anyone has information about any of these incidents, please contact Sparks Police Detectives at 353-2225 or Secret Witness at 322-4900.