Teen Gang Charged for Extensive Bay Area Burglary Spree

A group of teenage burglars has been caught after allegedly targeting nearly 80 homes and vehicles in the Bay Area. Police discovered the spree involved stolen firearms, high-speed chases, and a suspected fencing operation, with stolen property valued at approximately $250,000.

Crime Spree Unveiled

Concord police released a surveillance video titled ‘Teamwork Leads to Arrests in Regional Armed Burglary Series.’ The video shows suspects breaking into parked vehicles in the early morning and using stolen garage door openers to enter attached garages. Power tools, firearms, and other valuables were stolen during these break-ins.

Suspects Caught on Video

Video footage shows the suspects pointing a firearm at a home’s interior door during the investigation.

In a bold incident captured on camera, the suspects pointed a firearm at a door connecting a garage to a home, seemingly waiting for the homeowner. In another burglary, 14 firearms were allegedly stolen from a single residential garage.

By the end of the investigation, detectives linked the suspects to 37 vehicle and residential burglaries in Concord and about 40 more in Contra Costa and Solano counties. They also reportedly stole vehicles to commit additional crimes.

Repeated Escapes and Final Capture

Even as the burglary spree continued, suspects managed to evade capture several times. In May, police attempted a traffic stop on a suspect vehicle, but the driver sped away, prompting police to end the chase for safety reasons.

During another burglary spree in June, suspects escaped from another attempted capture. Later, juveniles fled from a burglary, crashed a vehicle, and escaped on foot, though officers recovered a firearm.

A breakthrough came in late June as detectives from Concord and Richmond identified four juveniles suspected of the burglaries. One was already held in juvenile hall for an unrelated case. Arrest and search warrants were obtained for the remaining three.

Arrests and Seizures

In July, Concord’s SWAT Team made coordinated arrests with help from other local law enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service. All three outstanding suspects were apprehended, and searches of their homes uncovered two stolen firearms. Another firearm had been recovered earlier by Richmond Police.

Organized Fencing Operation

Detectives uncovered an organized fencing operation led by Wuillian Cordova-Cubias of Oakland. Cordova-Cubias allegedly bought stolen power tools from the juveniles soon after the burglaries.

On August 5, police executed a search warrant at Cordova-Cubias’ home. They found about 500 stolen power tools, a stolen ATV, a forklift, an unregistered firearm, and other valuable items worth roughly $250,000. He was charged with receiving stolen property and several other offenses.

As organized theft offenses have increased, my office has responded by building an effective Organized Theft Unit, working closely with law enforcement to prosecute cases beyond a reasonable doubt.

Diana Becton, Contra Costa County District Attorney, praised the collaboration between law enforcement agencies. Cordova-Cubias remains in custody, awaiting arraignment. The identities of the juvenile suspects remain undisclosed due to California law, while charges against them have been filed.