Alert residents help San Mateo police recover stolen deliveries and identify two suspects earlier this week
San Mateo, California – A seven-minute span of early-morning calls on George Avenue quickly grew into a package theft investigation stretching beyond San Mateo.
What began with a report of a possible tire theft and three people lingering near parked cars ended with two arrests, recovered packages and questions about whether another person may be connected.
San Mateo police said the first call came at 7:34 a.m. on July 20 from a resident in the 4100 block of George Avenue who believed someone had tried to remove a tire from her vehicle. A second caller contacted police at 7:41 a.m. after seeing three suspicious people in the parking area, including one person on a bicycle. The caller was concerned because of a recent increase in package thefts.
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Both callers gave descriptions. One also reported a possible associated vehicle, provided its license plate and said it appeared to have a flat tire. Police determined the plate was linked to a vehicle previously connected to a person known to the department. Officers tried to locate that person but did not find him.
At 8:18 a.m., an officer located a bicycle and the suspected vehicle at Laurie Meadows Shopping Center. Both were unattended, and the vehicle had been parked behind a larger vehicle.
Employees at a nearby restaurant told officers that two people connected to the vehicle had gone inside and were in the restroom. Officers waited for them to leave before making contact.
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Police identified the man as Ernie Suazo, 31, of San Jose. Suazo, the vehicle’s registered owner, said it belonged to him. The woman, identified as Jessica Navarro, 48, of Redwood City, denied being associated with the vehicle, but officers found its key in her possession.
A search of the vehicle uncovered packages addressed to several Belmont residents and an official document belonging to someone in East Palo Alto. Police contacted three people who confirmed the packages had been stolen and that neither suspect had permission to possess them.
Suazo and Navarro were arrested and booked into San Mateo County Jail. Suazo was arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property and violating probation. Navarro was arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property and theft with two or more prior convictions. A probation hold was placed on Suazo.
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Police are working to identify additional victims. Investigators have not determined whether the third person seen on the bicycle was involved. Other law enforcement agencies were notified.
Residents who are missing a package marked as delivered are urged to file a police report immediately. Police also recommend using delivery lockers offered by Amazon, UPS and USPS when no one will be home to receive an order.
