Deputies arrest East Palo Alto man accused in string of Caltrain bicycle thefts
San Mateo County, California – For thousands of Caltrain riders, bringing a bicycle aboard is part of the daily commute. But over three months this summer, deputies say bikes repeatedly disappeared from trains, turning a routine trip into an ongoing theft investigation.
Now, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office says a suspect has been arrested after investigators connected him to nearly a dozen reported bicycle thefts along the busy transit corridor.
Between May and August 2026, deputies responded to 10 separate reports of bicycles being stolen from Caltrain. Investigators reviewed the cases and used video recorded inside the trains as they worked to identify the person believed to be responsible.
With assistance from Caltrain and its onboard video footage, deputies identified the suspect as 28-year-old Jesus S. Molina-Barajas of East Palo Alto.
Authorities said Molina-Barajas had previously been arrested in September 2025 in connection with another bicycle theft.
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As the latest investigation developed, deputies obtained a warrant for his arrest. On Aug. 31, investigators located Molina-Barajas at a hotel in Hayward. He was taken into custody without incident, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Molina-Barajas was later booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility on multiple counts of PC 487(a), Grand Theft of Personal Property, and PC 484(a), Petty Theft.
The case highlights a persistent security concern on a transit system where bicycles play a significant role in how passengers complete their trips. According to Caltrain, the agency supports approximately 1.8 million bicycle trips each year, creating a large flow of bikes on trains and through stations across the system.
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office provides policing services for Caltrain under contract, covering the transit corridor used by passengers traveling between San Francisco and Gilroy.
Deputies said the Sheriff’s Office and Caltrain continue to work together on efforts aimed at discouraging bicycle theft and protecting passengers’ property.
The Sheriff’s Office is also asking riders and other members of the public to remain alert and report suspicious activity. Anyone who notices potentially suspicious behavior along the Caltrain corridor can contact the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office at 650-363-4911.
