2 men arrested in alleged monthslong theft spree from big-box retailers

SAN JOSE >> Two men have been arrested in connection with a monthslong retail theft spree in San Jose that involved more than 70 incidents and more than $75,000 in losses for the big-box stores they allegedly targeted.

Jaime Flores, 46, and Thomas Sapinoso, 37, are being held in the Elmwood men's jail in Milpitas after being accused of a series of brazen shoplifting instances between July and January, according to a San Jose police news release.

The news release included a surveillance image of the men walking out of a Nike store in San Jose with their arms full of shoeboxes and other merchandise. Police said in that incident, just like in the others linked to the pair, they quickly got into a waiting car and fled the scene.

The businesses where the thefts occurred included Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Nike, REI and Target.

Flores was arrested Dec. 16 after officers responded to a report of a theft at Westgate Center, which houses several of the affected retailers identified by police. He is in jail, where he is being held without bail.

Sapinoso already was in jail when San Jose police detectives obtained an arrest warrant for him on Jan. 31. He had been booked the day before after being arrested “for an unrelated incident.”

Police Chief Anthony Mata credited the arrests in part to a recent infusion of $8.4 million state funds allocated specifically to help San Jose combat organized retail theft. More than half of that money will pay for additional officer patrols and investigations, with another $3 million budgeted for installing more automated license-plate reader cameras in the city.

“From the beginning, the Organized Retail Theft Detail has been proactive, persistent, and dedicated to combating organized retail theft in San Jose,” Mata said in a statement.

Anyone with information about the theft investigation involving Flores and Sapinoso can call 408-277-4521 or email Detective Marc Beretta at 3677@sanjoseca.gov or forensic analyst David Moody at david.moody@sanjoseca. gov. Tips can be left with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or at siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.