Campbell Police have cracked down on a local electronics repair shop, iTek Mobile Repair, after discovering a stash of reported stolen goods ready for sale on the store's website and destined for markets overseas. The store on South Bascom Avenue became the focus of the police investigation last Saturday when officers, acting on a tip, zeroed in on the location because of alerts from laptops stolen from a research lab.
During the search, law enforcement officers found 29 boxes of electronics suspected to have been unlawfully obtained, including computers, phones, and iPads/tablets. Moreover, approximately 500 laptops were uncovered on the premises, which points to a large-scale operation involving the store owner, Thu Van Ho, and his associate Thanh Nguyen, according to the Campbell Police Department.
Both suspects, Ho and Nguyen, residents of San Jose, were arrested, with Ho facing multiple charges, receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit a crime, a violation of probation, and committing a felony while out on bail. It was not the first time for Ho, who was on probation and bail for similar offenses, indicating a pattern of criminal activity. On the other side, Nguyen was taken into custody for receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit a crime, and also had an outstanding warrant for related charges. Ho has since posted bail while Nguyen is still behind bars.
The local police and the Property and Evidence Specialist are now diligently working to trace the ownership of the collected gadgets to ensure the items return to the hands of lawful owners. Campbell Police urge anyone missing an electronic device to report it, including as much detail as possible, especially serial numbers, to help streamline recovery.
