Three people were arrested by St. Helena police on Wednesday for allegedly trying to steal $12,000 worth of Rolex watches from a downtown jewelry store, using a stolen credit card and identification.

Arrested were Carmina Santos and Myra Minks of Alameda, and Jerry Dilliehunt of Richmond. 

When police searched the trio’s rented vehicle, they uncovered contents they suspect might have been involved in other area robberies.

On Wednesday, Santos went into David’s Jewelers in the 1300 block of Main Street, police said. Santos tried to buy two Rolex watches worth $12,000, using a stolen credit card and identification, St. Helena Police Sgt. William Imboden said.

Santos was unable to provide the clerk with the correct information about the owner of the credit card, and took the credit card and identification and left the store, Imboden said.

Santos got into a rented Jeep Commander and fled, but not before the clerk was able to get the license plate number.

Police dispatch broadcast the description of the Jeep over the radio to law enforcement. Napa police spotted the vehicle on Highway 29 about a half hour later and stopped it without incident.

Officers from St. Helena police arrived at the scene and arrested Santos, 28, and her passenger, Jerry Dilliehunt, 35. Another passenger, Myra Minks, 30, of Alameda, was arrested by Napa police for allegedly providing false identification.

When St. Helena police officers searched the Jeep, they found cell phones, chargers, a laptop computer with wireless Internet access, changes of clothes, including a wig, thousands of dollars in cash, a small amount of methamphetamine and cocaine and paperwork listing information for other people, including Social Security and drivers license numbers, dates of birth, addresses, credit card numbers and employment information, Imboden said.

During the investigation, St. Helena police detectives discovered the group was also suspected of being involved in three other similar attempted thefts in Palo Alto, Imboden said.

Just prior to Wednesday’s attempted robbery, Napa police said that three Napa jewelry stores received six suspicious calls from a person asking if they carried high-end diamonds and Rolex watches, and if they kept them stocked in the store, Imboden said. Also in the Jeep was a piece of paper with the addresses of the stores that had received those telephone calls, he said.

Santos, of Concord, was arrested on suspicion of felony embezzlement, grand theft and driving on a suspended license.

Dilliehunt, of Richmond, was arrested on suspicion of drug possession.