Suspected San Jose stolen property fence busted; more than $1.5 million goods seized

SAN JOSE (CBS SF)  -- A 24-year-old suspect was in custody and more than $1.5 million in stolen property including several ghost guns has been recovered after San Jose police busted a major stolen property fencing operation.

Investigators said Matthew Freudenblum, who is already on probation in Santa Clara County for auto theft and credit card fraud, was in custody on charges involving multiple burglaries, thefts and weapons violations. Bail was set at $1 million.

In February 2022, San José police received a tip from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers organization regarding an unknown suspect who was selling suspected stolen property in an online marketplace.

Detectives investigated the information and confirmed the property was stolen from an auto burglary in San José. 

The investigation linked Freudenblum to two different storage facilities, where he was likely warehousing stolen goods, and detectives obtained search warrants for both locations.

The warrants were served on April 20th and netted evidence including high-end medical equipment valued at over $1.5 million stolen from San José, two Go-Kart vehicles valued at nearly $50,000 stolen during a burglary in San Mateo County and 6 un-serialized "Ghost Gun" pistols in various stages of assembly.

On April 28, police officers arrested Freudenblum and located additional evidence in his vehicle, including property taken during another burglary and an additional ghost gun.