In a coordinated sweep that underscores the persistent issue of property crime in San Francisco, the SFPD ended the activities of a burglary crew that targeted homes under renovation. The San Francisco Police Department, as part of a meticulous operation involving multiple specialized units, nabbed three suspects allegedly responsible for a spate of overnight burglaries at residential construction sites across the city.
The arrests stem from a diligent investigation initiated in mid-September by the SFPD Citywide Plainclothes members and the SFPD Fencing Unit. These teams had been monitoring suspects linked to the pilfering of properties and the subsequent handoff of goods to a so-called fence, a trafficker in stolen merchandise. Last Friday, a combination of units, including the Burglary, Fencing, Citywide Plainclothes, Retail Theft, Real-Time Investigation Center, and Drone as First Responder Units, executed an overnight operation targeting the burglary/fencing crew, according to the San Francisco Police Department.
During surveillance activities, officers saw the suspects switching license plates on a vehicle, which they used to commit multiple burglaries throughout prominent neighborhoods, infiltrating the Taraval, Ingleside, Park, Richmond, Northern, Mission, and Bayview police districts. In the early morning hours that same day, the burglary team allegedly hit four locations in the Taraval police district.
Later, the officers witnessed a scene in a parking lot on the 2000 block of Evans Avenue where the suspects appeared to transfer a voluminous set of tools from one vehicle to another. With this evidence and probable cause established, authorities apprehended three adult males. Oswaldo Antonio Fuentes, 49, Daniel Gonzalez, 45, and Mario Randolfo Pazoz-Cruz, 64, were booked into San Francisco County Jail #1 on a raft of charges, including burglary and grand theft. While searching the cars linked to these individuals, officers found over $4,000 worth of stolen construction equipment alongside burglary tools.
Although this operation has led to significant arrests, the investigation continues. Officials encourage anyone with information to contact the SFPD at 1-415-575-4444 or to provide anonymous tips by texting TIP411, beginning the message with SFPD.
