The San José Police Department (SJPD) has apprehended two suspects, Jaime Flores, 46, and Thomas Sapinoso, 37, both from San Jose. They are linked to over 70 retail thefts. The SJPD’s Financial Crimes Unit Detectives started investigating these thefts, which occurred in various San Jose retail stores, from July 2023 to January 2024. The suspects allegedly stole merchandise worth thousands of dollars from stores like Target, NIKE, REI, Best Buy, and Dicks Sporting Goods.
The total value of the stolen goods exceeded $75,000. Flores was arrested on December 16, 2023, by SJPD officers after a theft at Westgate Mall. He was then booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail. Sapinoso was already in jail following an unrelated arrest by the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. His arrest warrant was issued on January 31, 2024.
The SJPD Organized Retail Theft Detail, funded by an $8.4 million grant from the California Board of State and Community Corrections, facilitated the investigation. Chief Anthony Mata commended the team’s efforts in tackling organized retail theft in San Jose.