SAN JOSE – Half a dozen teens have been arrested in connection with a series of burglaries, vehicle thefts, assaults and attempted carjackings in San Jose stretching back to December, police said.
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The spree started on Christmas Eve, when four suspects drove a vehicle into a business in the 2300 block of Almaden Road, according to San Jose police Officer Tanya Hernandez. The suspects stole merchandise and left the area before officers arrived.
Dozens of similar break-ins were reported in the following weeks, Hernandez said.
Around 3 a.m. on March 25, two cars were stolen from a home and an attempted carjacking was reported about 15 minutes later, Hernandez said, adding that the suspects pointed guns at the victim and threatened to shoot before leaving the area in three vehicles.
Officers tracked down the stolen cars around 3:40 a.m. and tried to stop the suspects, but they drove away, according to Hernandez. While there was no vehicle pursuit, one of the cars was later found disabled on a Highway 101 onramp.
Two suspects took off on foot. One was apprehended but the other brandished a firearm, forcing an officer to take cover, Hernandez said.
Just after 4 a.m., officers encountered the suspects again. Hernandez said they rammed a patrol vehicle, which led to a foot chase and the arrest of two more suspects.
Police soon learned the Santa Clara Police Department was investigating several similar crimes.
Detectives identified six male suspects ranging from 14 to 16 years old. They also obtained arrest warrants for three of the outstanding suspects, as well as search warrants.
On June 17, the suspects were arrested in Milpitas and San Jose. In addition, two women related to the suspects were arrested on suspicion of attempting to discard evidence, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Detectives also seized a loaded magazine, ski masks, key fobs, an onboard diagnostics reader, several replica firearms, ammunition and steel chains, which were used to rip out doorframes in some of the business burglaries, according to Hernandez.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 408-277-4161.