Robbery suspect at large in store theft
PALO ALTO — Two men were arrested on suspicion of a brazen smash-and-grab jewelry theft in May 2015 at Bloomingdale’s, but one suspect remains at large, police said Tuesday.
The theft happened around 4:14 a.m. May 13, 2015 at Bloomingdale’s at Stanford Shopping Center, according to Palo Alto police. Security officers responded to an alarm and discovered the doors on the El Camino Real side were shattered, as well as destroyed jewelry cases cleared of their contents.
Surveillance video footage showed a red 1989 Jeep Cherokee being driven into the store, followed by suspects wearing black hooded sweatshirts who used a hammer-like tool to smash the jewelry cases.
Within two minutes, the thieves took more than $125,000 worth of jewelry and drove off. The estimated damage to the front doors of Bloomingdale’s and destroyed jewelry cases exceeded $55,000.
Police said the Jeep was reported stolen before the theft happened.
The stolen vehicle was found later in the morning on the 200 block of Palo Alto Avenue.
Through forensic evidence obtained from the stolen Jeep, detectives were able to identify one of the suspects last July. Bobby Donald Burke, 34, of Antioch, was identified as a suspect, but he was in custody in County Jail in Martinez at the time for an unrelated offense.
Police had a search warrant for Burke’s home on the 400 block of Grangnelli Avenue, where they recovered a watch that was stolen during the Bloomingdale’s burglary.
Detectives arrested Burke on Sept. 2, 2015 when he was released from jail on suspicion of felony commercial burglary, grand theft, vandalism, possession of stolen property and vehicle theft. He was booked into Santa Clara County Jail.
Detectives conducted probation searches related to this case last October at two residences in Hayward. Police recovered a bracelet that was stolen during the burglary at a home on the 200 block of Culp Avenue.
Two additional suspects, a father and a son, were identified after detectives developed further information. Detectives obtained arrest warrants for the men, charging them with felony commercial burglary, grand theft and vandalism.
On Jan. 27, detectives arrested James Edward Sandoval, 49, of Hayward, at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin when he was released for unrelated charges. He was booked into Santa Clara County Jail.
The third suspect, Joseph Daniel Sandoval, 30, of Hayward, remains at large. Police said his current whereabouts were unknown.
Detectives believe that a fourth person, an unidentified woman, is connected to the Bloomingdale’s burglary.
Police encourage anyone with information on this crime to call 650-3292413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@ tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.