Massive vehicle burglary operation in NorCal, Bay Area uncovered after single theft
Have you been a victim of a vehicle burglary? Check if your stolen electronics have been recovered by deputies
Have you been a victim of a vehicle burglary? Check if your stolen electronics have been recovered by deputies
Have you been a victim of a vehicle burglary? Check if your stolen electronics have been recovered by deputies
The San Joaquín County Sheriff's Office is trying to find the rightful owners of hundreds of stolen electronics that were recovered in the Bay Area after they uncovered a multi-county vehicle burglary operation.
The investigation stemmed from a vehicle burglary at the Lincoln Center in Stockton on April 1.
Det. Steve Jacobson with the sheriff's office said a man named DeShawn Leandrei Allen stalked a mother and daughter after they purchased a laptop at a Best Buy a mile away from the center. He then followed them to the Lincoln Center and broke into the car as soon as they were out, needing only 12 seconds to take their laptop.
After identifying him, San Joaquin County deputies went after Allen in Richmond. What they found there was more than just the product of one theft.
"Not only were we furthering our investigation with the property that was stolen here in San Joaquin County, but we came across the property of victims throughout the United States," Jacobson added.
Allen faces charges of second-degree burglary, grand theft exceeding $950, possession of burglary tools, vandalism, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.
Among the seized property was Allen's cell phone where communication was discovered between him and Urias Joram Hernández Ochoa, owner of Oromax Pawn Shop in Richmond, and where hundreds of stolen electronic devices were found.
Through the investigation, officers determined that Hernández Ochoa knowingly bought the stolen goods.
"Not one item that we've discovered has been lawfully pawned at this business," Jacobson said, adding that Hernández Ochoa has not met his business reporting requirements to the Department of Justice since 2018.
Hernández Ochoa was also arrested and faces charges of conspiracy and receiving stolen property.
Deputies have been in touch with at least 140 victims nationwide and none have claimed to have sold or pawned anything to Oromax Pawn Shop.
While some items have been returned to their owners, most are still unclaimed. This includes Ipads, cell phones, cameras, watches and over 600 laptops. Most of the items either don't have serial numbers or have been completely wiped out of personal information.
Check here if you recognize any of these stolen items to be yours.
Officials told KCRA 3 that the organized vehicle burglaries often target people driving vehicles with out-of-state license plates or rental cars.