SJPD Arrests Suspect for Underground Fencing Operation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

The San Jose Police Department’s Burglary Prevention Unit (BPU) aims to identify trends related to burglaries and thefts and develop a strategy to respond accordingly. Since the COVID related statewide lockdowns, BPU noted an increase in the above crimes as they related specifically to expensive bicycles and construction equipment. Many of the incidents were occurring in the downtown area.

BPU initiated ‘Operation Flat Tire’ roughly six months ago to identify the outlet for the stolen property and suppress related crimes. Detectives identified Jose Guadalupe Barba as the head of an underground bicycle fencing operation that was being run out of a residence on Almaden Avenue near Highway 280. Barba routinely purchased stolen construction equipment and high-end bicycles from a multitude of suspects who committed the thefts, often paying a small fraction of the property’s actual value.

On May 27th, 2021, the SJPD Burglary Prevention Unit, assisted by the METRO Unit and the Financial Crimes Unit, served search warrants at Barba’s residence and arrested Barba for receiving stolen property. The search yielded a cache of expensive bicycles, crates of construction tools, retail merchandise that was still affixed with security sensors, and over $20,000 in cash. Detectives are currently working to identify the owners of the seized property, the value of which is estimated at nearly $100,000.

Suspect Barba bailed out and is not in custody at this time.

This operation would not have been a success without the partnership between the police department and local businesses including Specialized Bicycles, TJ Maxx/Marshalls, Home Depot, and Lowes. Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the SJPD Financial Crimes Unit at 408-277-4521.

Persons wishing to remain anonymous may either call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (408) 947-STOP (7867) or click the "Submit a Tip" on the link below. Persons providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect may be eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers.