2 Arrests in Cheese Company Bus Theft

The Volkswagen minibuses, customized to look like Tillamook cheese blocks, were said to be worth $100,000

Two Northern California men are in custody, accused in the strange theft of three bright orange mini buses used to promote cheese.

Manteca police said Brian Lancaster and Ryan Monaco of Sacramento were pulled over Tuesday and taken into custody.

The Volkswagen minibuses, customized to look like Tillamook cheese blocks, were said to be worth $100,000.

The restored buses, used as touring vehicles by Tillamook, vanished early Saturday from a hotel parking lot, Manteca police said.

Police Chief Nick Obligacion told the Associated Press that the vehicles were found Monday in a storage locker rented by one of the suspects.

The minivans had stopped in Manteca on a tour promoting the Tillamook County Creamery Association's dairy products.

Lancaster and Monaco were being held for investigation of auto theft and other charges.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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