San José Police Department officers have quickly apprehended two men in connection with a chain of high-end burglaries. Suspects Daemori Hunt, 20, of Moreno Valley, and Dametrius Batchelor, 23, of Riverside, were arrested following a series of break-ins that rattled San José neighborhoods.
On the heels of multiple burglaries, SJPD officers were well prepared to respond rapidly. After being dispatched to three residential burglaries on December 6 in the Evergreen and Silver Creek areas, additional Burglary Suppression officers were already patrolling when another burglary was reported. A vehicle matching the description of one involved in the crimes was located. When officers attempted to stop it near Fontanoso Way, both suspects ran for it, leading to a dramatic on-foot chase near a creek and a field.
San José's Air Support Unit was instrumental in the arrests, with their helicopter, Air 3, providing aerial surveillance that helped pin down the suspects' location. The suspects were taken into custody without further ado. Items recovered from their vehicle included cash, jewelry, along luxury purses believed to have been stolen from various homes, which will be returned to their rightful owners.
According to the San José Police Department’s news release, diligent investigative work by the SJPD's Financial Crimes Unit has since linked Hunt and Batchelor to at least seven additional residential burglaries in San José, as well as several others across the Bay Area, with losses estimated to reach at least $300,000. "This is an amazing coordinated effort by Patrol Officers, Burglary Suppression Officers, Financial Crimes Unit Detectives, and our invaluable Air 3 Officers that leveraged technology and equipment to locate these suspects and to take them into custody without incident," lauded the Chief of Police Anthony Mata.
San José residents who may have information relating to these or similar crimes have been encouraged to come forward. They can contact Detective Roberson of the Financial Crimes, Burglary Unit or submit anonymous tips through various platforms, including a mobile app and the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers website, potentially qualifying themselves for a cash reward if the tip leads to an arrest.
