Wedding rings, luxury watches, jewelry and family heirlooms – the 700 stolen properties are estimated to be worth around $1 million.
After officers executed search warrants across Northern and Central California, police said the Bay Area was being robbed by a sophisticated bandit targeting Asian-American families.
At a news conference Wednesday, San Jose authorities announced the arrest of three suspected members of the ring. Authorities linked the suspects to nearly 80 robberies since June in West San Jose, Cupertino, Saratoga, Campbell and Mountain View.
“It's a good day after months of bad news, fear, frustration and anger,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said. “For nearly six months, our AAPI community in the West San Jose region has lived in fear of house after house break-in, and residents have wondered if they were next.”
Alberto Ibra Vallejo, 25; Gonzalo Valencia Ramos, 28; and Jaime Martinez Arroyo, 46, were arrested Jan. 16 by San Jose police detectives and special operations team members, who were assisted by Stockton police SWAT officers, according to San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph.
Calls to the accused's representatives were not returned.
Each is being held without bail and all are due back in court on February 3.
Joseph counted 78 robberies, including 30 in San Jose, 20 in Mountain View, 18 in Cupertino and 10 each in Saratoga and Campbell.
All three were charged with 72 counts of robbery, Santa Clara County District. Atty. Jeff Rosen said.
“These crimes have deeply affected our communities, instilling fear and haunting many vulnerable families,” Joseph told a news conference.
Part of the reason the crimes persist is because area authorities, including the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department and the Mountain View and Campbell police departments, are investigating the crimes separately.
An extensive investigation was conducted until sheriff's detectives recognized one of the suspects on a door camera, he said.
“Extensive surveillance and search warrants conducted by the San Jose PD led to the identification of additional suspects involved in this large number of robberies,” Joseph said.
The men were part of a group that systematically shut down neighborhoods and targeted AAPI homes, Joseph said.
“They believed they were houses where they would find a lot of valuables,” Joseph said, “and it was worth their while to get into those houses.”
The robbers reportedly avoided large items like televisions or electronics in favor of jewelry, cash and high-end wallets. They also seized foreign currency, Joseph said.
“For San Jose residents and many in Santa Clara County, few crimes damage our sense of safety and peace like a home invasion,” said San Jose City Council Member Rosemary Comey. “I live in the neighborhood. I understand. I felt the same fear and anxiety that all the residents experienced. “
Joseph said the searches yielded five firearms, three of which were reported stolen.
Detectives are still investigating as additional members of the group have yet to be identified. Joseph added that the number of robberies tied to the three men would increase in the coming days.
Officials also said enhanced charges of hate crimes will be added.