2 San Jose men arrested in connection to over 70 retail thefts
(KRON) — An investigation into more than 70 retail thefts spanning six months in San Jose led to arrests of two men, the San Jose Police Department announced on Wednesday. Detectives named Jamie Flores, 46, and Thomas Sapinoso, 37, as the suspects responsible.
According to police investigators, Flores and Sapinoso committed the thefts between July 2023 and January 2024 at various retail stores in San Jose, including Target, Nike, REI, Best Buy and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The two suspects would enter the businesses and take thousands of dollars worth of merchandise before taking off in an awaiting vehicle. In total, over $75,000 worth of merchandise was stolen, police said.
Flores was arrested on Dec. 16 by San Jose police responding to a grand theft at Westgate Mall, SJPD said, and booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail. Sapinoso was already in custody at Santa Clara County Main Jail for an unrelated incident when an arrest warrant was obtained on Jan. 31.
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The San Jose Police Department is crediting the Organized Retail Theft Detail’s investigation to $8.4 million in grant funding awarded to the department by the California Board of State and Community Corrections. “This is just the first example of ORTD’s great work and their positive impact in our City,” Police Chief Anthony Mata said.
In response to the arrest announcement, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said on X, “The additional resources provided by the Retail Theft Grant San Jose received are starting to show results — but it’ll take more than one grant to get to the root of the problem. State-level reform is necessary to create lasting change.”
Anyone with information on these cases is asked to contact Detective Beretta #3677 at 3677@sanjoseca.gov or Forensic Analyst Moody #1617N at David.Moody@sanjoseca.gov, or by calling (408)-277-4521.
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