SJPD Arrest of Prolific Thief

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

In February 2022, the San José Police Department received a tip from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers organization regarding an unknown suspect who was selling suspected stolen property in an online marketplace. Detectives investigated the information and confirmed the property was stolen from an auto burglary in San José. Additional follow-up identified the seller as Santa Clara County resident Matthew Freudenblum, who is on probation in Santa Clara County for auto theft and credit card fraud.

The investigation linked Freudenblum to two different storage facilities, where he was likely warehousing stolen goods, and detectives obtained search warrants for both locations. The warrants were served on April 20th and netted the following evidence:

• High-end medical equipment valued at over 1.5 million dollars (stolen from San José)
• Two Go-Kart vehicles valued at nearly $50,000 (stolen during a burglary in San Mateo County)
• Numerous stolen electronics, including an iPad (stolen from a teacher’s car in Palo Alto)
• Multiple sets of golf clubs (stolen during several different vehicle burglaries throughout the Bay Area)
• Music equipment (stolen during a burglary in San José)
• One un-serialized “Ghost Gun” assault rifle
• Six un-serialized “Ghost Gun” pistols in various stages of assembly
• One serialized handgun (stolen during a vehicle burglary in Morgan Hill)

Detectives worked closely with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office to walk through an arrest warrant for Freudenblum, charging him with multiple burglaries, thefts, and weapons violations. Bail was set at one million dollars.

On April 28, 2022, San José police officers arrested Freudenblum and located additional evidence in his vehicle, including property taken during another burglary and an additional “Ghost Gun.” This “Ghost Gun” was loaded and concealed in a hidden compartment in Freudenblum's vehicle.

 

Freudenblum is currently in custody and detectives are working to return property to victims, as well as identify additional cases. Any persons with information about this case or similar incidents involving this suspect are urged to contact Detective Potwora #3506 of the Burglary Unit with any information about this incident at (408) 277-4401 or e-mail 3506@sanjoseca.gov.

Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.svcrimestoppers.org. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.