3 men arrested for alleged $3,700 Walgreens theft

MILPITAS >> Three East Bay men were arrested on suspicion of stealing nearly $4,000 worth of merchandise from a Milpitas Walgreens after fleeing from police and crashing their Lexus midday Wednesday, police said.

Just before noon, police arrived at the drugstore at 1833 North Milpitas Boulevard after reports of a theft and saw three men matching the suspect descriptions driving away in a gold Lexus, said Lieut. Abbie Serrano in a news release.

After driving down the roadway for a few minutes, the Lexus crashed into another car at North Abel Street at Redwood Avenue about two miles away, Serrano said. The suspects jumped out of the car and ran into the surrounding neighborhood.

Although police quickly followed and arrested three suspects, they issued a lockdown notice for nearby Curtner Elementary

School while they scoured the neighborhood for a possible fourth suspect. The Fremont Fire Department also flew an aircraft overhead for a bird’s-eye view of the neighborhood.

But based off home security footage from a nearby resident, officers confirmed that the three suspects already in custody were the only suspects involved, Serrano said.

The lockdown notice for Curtner Elementary was lifted and the suspects were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy to commit a theft and vandalism.

Milpitas police identified the three men as Oakley resident Daniel Cortez, 30, and Oakland residents Travon Adkins, 27, and Lawrence Tillman Jr., 25.

The total value of the stolen items recovered topped $3,700, Serrano said.

Anyone with information about the incident can call the Milpitas Police Department at 408-586-2400 or anonymously at 408586-2500.