Teen burglary ring linked to nearly 80 Bay Area break-ins dismantled after months-long investigation: PD
A gang of teenage burglars accused of targeting nearly 80 Bay Area homes and vehicles is behind bars after investigators unraveled a months-long crime spree that included stolen firearms, high-speed chases and an alleged fencing operation that netted roughly $250,000 in suspected stolen property.
Concord police also released surveillance video of the burglary spree, dubbing the compilation "Teamwork Leads to Arrests in Regional Armed Burglary Series."
The video shows the suspects breaking into parked vehicles in the early morning hours before using stolen garage door openers to gain access to attached garages, where investigators said they stole power tools, firearms and other valuables.
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In one of the most brazen moments captured on camera, investigators said the suspects pointed a firearm at the interior door connecting a garage to a home, apparently waiting for a homeowner to emerge. During another burglary, the crew allegedly stole 14 firearms from a single residential garage.
By the time the investigation wrapped up, detectives had linked the suspects to 37 vehicle and residential burglaries in Concord and approximately 40 more across Contra Costa and Solano counties. Police said the group also stole multiple vehicles, which they allegedly used to commit additional crimes.
The suspects repeatedly slipped away from officers as the burglary spree unfolded.
In May, an officer spotted a possible suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver allegedly sped away. Police launched a pursuit before calling it off over public safety concerns.
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During another string of burglaries in June, officers located a different suspect vehicle, but the suspects again escaped.
Later that month, the juveniles allegedly fled another burglary, crashed a vehicle and ran from the scene on foot. They evaded capture once again, though officers recovered a firearm.
The break in the case came in late June, when Concord detectives working with the Richmond Police Department identified four juveniles believed to be behind the burglary spree.
One suspect was already being held in juvenile hall in connection with an unrelated case. Investigators then obtained arrest and search warrants for the remaining three.
In July, the Concord Police Department SWAT Team executed simultaneous warrants with assistance from the Antioch Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department, Central County SWAT and the U.S. Marshals Service.
All three outstanding suspects were arrested.
Searches of their residences led to the recovery of two firearms stolen during the burglaries, police said. A third stolen firearm had previously been recovered by the Richmond Police Department during a separate investigation.
As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered what prosecutors describe as an organized fencing operation.
Investigators identified 37-year-old Wuillian Cordova-Cubias of Oakland as the alleged buyer of stolen property, accusing him of purchasing power tools from the juvenile suspects, often shortly after the burglaries occurred.
On Aug. 5, detectives with the Concord Police Department, Oakland Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service executed a search warrant at Cordova-Cubias' Oakland home.
Police said the search uncovered what investigators believe was the hub of a regional fencing operation. Inside, detectives found at least 500 suspected stolen power tools, along with a stolen ATV, a stolen forklift, an unregistered firearm and numerous other high-value items. Authorities estimated the recovered property was worth approximately $250,000.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office charged Cordova-Cubias with receiving stolen property, two counts of receiving stolen motor vehicles, unlawful firearm activity and conspiracy with juvenile co-conspirators. Prosecutors also filed sentencing enhancements that could increase any potential penalties if he is convicted.
"As organized theft offenses have increased, my office has responded by building an effective Organized Theft Unit that works closely with law enforcement to file strong cases we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt in court," Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement. "Concord Police Department's thorough investigation into these burglaries and the fencing operation reflects the kind of collaboration that holds individuals accountable."
Cordova-Cubias remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon in Contra Costa County Superior Court.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office also filed complaints against the three juvenile suspects. Their identities have not been released under California law.