Suspects In Burglary Ring Blamed For 200+ South Bay Robberies Arrested
EAST PALO ALTO (CBS SF) -- A year-long investigation into an East Palo Alto street gang thought responsible for hundreds of South Bay burglaries has resulted in a number of arrests.
The San Jose Police Department's Financial Crimes Unit said eight search and arrest warrants were served in East Palo Alto and Newark, with seven people taken into custody.
Police said the burglary crew was responsible for more than 200 residential burglaries in San Jose and surrounding cities since last year. Included among the items stolen were firearms, cash, jewelry and electronics, police said.
Those arrested were identified as East Palo Alto residents Ruben Ibarra-Nava, 22; Emerson Chavez, Age 19; Daniel Flores-Castaneda, 24; Jaime Magana, 25, Francisco (Frankie) Ledesma Aquilar, 25; Gilberto Cruz, 19; and Raul Cruz Jr, 20.
Two of those arrested were already in jail at the time of arrest. Flores-Castaneda was in custody at the Santa Clara County Jail and Magana was in custody at the San Mateo County Jail.
Two other suspects were still at large. They were identified as East Palo Alto resident Miguel Chipres-Magallon, 22; and Newark resident Gustavo Ayala Garcia Jr., 23.
A number of law enforcement agencies assisted in the operation, including the sheriff's departments of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and police from East Palo Alto, Newark, Union City, Milpitas and Redwood City.