Full Notification

Beginning Monday night last week, San Leandro police officers investigated four commercial burglaries believed to have been committed by the same suspects, including the theft of 4 cars from the McKevitt Volvo dealership on Marina Blvd.  By Thursday, police arrested 2 of the suspects responsible for the crimes, and are searching for others.  

On Monday, October 17th at 10:00pm, officers responded to an alarm call at the Valero gas station located at 1495 Hays St.  When they arrived, they discovered that the business had been burglarized with more than $2,000 worth of tobacco products being stolen.  Police reviewed security video of the burglary, which provided limited leads in the case.

Four hours later on Tuesday morning at 2:15am, officers responded to another alarm call at the McKevitt Volvo dealership on Marina Blvd. where burglars cut a hole in a rear roll-up door and entered the inside of the business.  There, thieves stole personal items from employee desks and also took keys to 4 cars parked in the sales lot.  The suspects stole 3 Volvos and a pre-owned, black, Audi Q-7 SUV, before fleeing the area.

On Wednesday morning at 2:40am, officers responded to another burglary alarm at Bara’s Deli located in a small shopping center on Washington Ave. and Monterey Blvd.  Officers found that that someone had tried to burglarize the business by drilling into the front windows and front door lock.  A broken drill bit was found in the lock.

Approximately 15 minutes later at 2:57am, officers responded to another alarm call at the Premier Gas station located at 15018 Hesperian Blvd.  Officers found the front doors smashed out and later learned that suspects, believed to be responsible for the other burglaries, had stolen cash, lottery tickets and tobacco products from the gas station.

Responding officers spotted a black Audi SUV and silver Volvo fleeing the area at a high rate of speed.  The cars were driving too fast, and were not pursued by the responding officers.  Surveillance video from the gas station showed that both vehicles were involved in the burglary and matched the description of those stolen from the McKevitt Volvo dealership.  

Hours later on Wednesday morning, undercover detectives from the Department’s Crime Suppression Unit found one of the stolen Volvos parked at the corner of 92nd Ave. and E. St. in Oakland.  There, detectives arrested 35 year old Jason Lee of Oakland (image 1) on suspicion of auto theft and violating his probation.

That afternoon, SLPD detectives were notified that one of the other stolen Volvos was involved in a hit and run collision in Oakland’s Fruitvale district.  The driver of the car fled the scene after the collision and was able to get away before officers arrived to investigate.  The stolen car was returned to McKevitt Auto. 

On Thursday morning at 5:20am, officers responded to a fourth alarm call at the Grafco Convenience store located at 525 Williams St.  When they arrived, officers determined that the business had been burglarized.  While searching inside, they found 26 year old Eli Mahoney of Oakland (image 2), hiding inside.  He was arrested on suspicion of burglary and violating his probation.

“The arrests made by police are significant and should put an end to last week’s crime spree,” stated Lt. Robert McManus.  “Video surveillance played a key role in linking these cases together.  However, there are still more suspects to be arrested and we need to locate the black, Audi Q-7 SUV,” he said.

Police are asking that anyone with information about the stolen Audi or any of the crimes to contact them.

Eli Mahoney and Jason Lee remain in police custody at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin without bail.  

MEDIA UPDATES WILL BE MADE AS INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE

Please contact the San Leandro Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division with any information regarding this case or any other case at (510) 577-3230. 

Information may also be submitted anonymously by:

•    Phone:    Anonymous Crime Tips at (510) 577-3278
•    Text Message:      Text “TipSLPolice” to 888777

For crime prevention tips, please visit the Police Department’s website at http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/pd or contact our Crime Prevention Unit at 510-577-3228.

Citizens play a critical role in creating a safe environment by observing and reporting any suspicious or criminal activity to the police.  The San Leandro Police Department recommends that citizens do not participate in any direct verbal or physical involvement with suspicious persons or those engaged in the commission of crimes. Personal safety of our community is paramount.  We encourage the San Leandro community to record the details of what they observe and to report those details to the police.  This type of community involvement and partnership has proven to be a very effective crime prevention tool.  Citizens act as the eyes and ears of the community first, and the extended eyes and ears of the San Leandro Police Department.  Thank you for being a force-multiplier in our efforts to provide professional police services and safety to the community.

PRESS RELEASE INFORMATION:

DATE / TIME OF RELEASE: 10/24/16 – 6:45pm

INCIDENTS: Police Arrest Burglars and Auto Thieves
 
PRESS RELEASE OFFICER:  Lt. Robert McManus        

TELEPHONE: (510) 577-3232

EMAIL: [email protected]

DATE / TIME OF INCIDENT: 10/20/16 – 12:00pm

ARREST LOCATION(S): See summaries

INVESTIGATING DETECTIVE(S): Detective Jeff Walton

SUSPECT(S):  Eli Mahoney and Jason Lee