MEDIA ADVISORY

Between December of 2024 and March of 2025, San José Police Department Patrol Officers responded to multiple commercial burglaries, vehicle thefts, assault, and attempted carjackings that occurred throughout the city of San José. The crimes involved a group of suspects committing armed vehicle thefts, and subsequently using the stolen vehicles to force entry into various businesses by driving them directly into storefronts or utilizing a chain to rip off doorframes before burglarizing them. The suspects would then take various items from the businesses and flee the scene in the stolen vehicles.

This crime spree began on December 24, 2024, at approximately 6:07 AM, when SJPD Patrol Officers responded to a report of a burglary at a business in the 2300 block of Almaden Road. Four unknown suspects rammed a vehicle into the business, severely damaging the facade of the building and entered to steal various items. The suspects fled the scene prior to police arrival. In the following weeks, Officers responded to dozens of similar break-ins involving suspects using vehicles to ram their way into businesses. 

Surveillance Video

In addition, on March 25, 2025, at approximately 3:00 AM, SJPD Patrol Officers responded to a residence regarding the theft of two vehicles. Unknown suspects had stolen the vehicles from the victim’s property and fled prior to police arrival. At approximately 3:15 AM, an attempted carjacking was reported nearby. Suspects shattered the victim’s vehicle window, triggering the alarm. When the victim attempted to intervene, the suspects brandished firearms and threatened to shoot. They then fled the scene in three vehicles.

At approximately 3:40 AM, SJPD utilized Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology to locate the two stolen vehicles in downtown San José. As officers attempted multiple vehicle enforcement stops, the suspects fled. While no pursuit was initiated, one vehicle was later found disabled on the Highway 101 on-ramp. Two suspects fled on foot; one juvenile was apprehended. During the foot pursuit of the second suspect, the individual brandished a firearm at an officer, forcing the officer to take cover.

By approximately 4:08 AM, suspects were again observed fleeing in multiple vehicles. In an effort to evade arrest, they intentionally rammed a patrol vehicle. Following a brief foot pursuit, two additional juvenile suspects were taken into custody.

During the course of the investigation, SJPD learned the Santa Clara Police Department was also investigating several similar crimes in the city of Santa Clara.

Detectives from the SJPD Robbery Unit, Burglary Unit, and Assaults Unit began a comprehensive investigation into these incidents. Detectives identified six juvenile male suspects ranging from 14 to 16 years of age in connection to these crimes. Detectives obtained arrest warrants for three outstanding suspects and search warrants for several associated residences. 

On June 17, 2025, with the assistance of the SJPD Covert Response Unit and the Santa Clara Police Department, three juvenile suspects were located and apprehended in the city of Milpitas and city of San José. Additionally, two adult female suspects related to two of the juvenile male suspects were arrested for attempting to discard evidence, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. 

During the search of the residences, Detectives located a loaded magazine, ski-masks, key FOBs, an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) reader, several replica firearms, ammunition, and steel chains.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Hernandez #4392 of the San José Police Department Robbery Unit via email: 4392@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-4166. 

Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.