Payam Javan: The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has announced the successful takedown of a large organized retail theft operation linked to more than $380,000 in stolen merchandise from Bay Area T.J. Maxx stores. Eight suspects were arrested on Tuesday, August 12, after coordinated raids at five locations in San Jose, where investigators recovered significant amounts of stolen goods.

Months-Long Investigation Exposes Crime Network

The investigation began in May after T.J. Maxx investigators alerted authorities to a theft crew repeatedly targeting multiple store locations—sometimes several times per day. Working with the District Attorney’s Office, detectives used surveillance and other techniques to track the suspects’ movements. Authorities ultimately tied the group to at least 80 thefts, totaling more than $53,000 in direct losses, and identified 16 suspects along with five stash locations.

Search Warrants Yield Large Hauls

Last week, search warrants were executed at four homes and a storage unit with assistance from local police departments. At a residence on Dobern Avenue, deputies recovered more than $225,000 in stolen merchandise, along with illegal drugs. Three suspects—Christian Hernandez Guzman (20), Jazmine Sanchez Valencia (23), and Esmeralda Hernandez Guzman (44)—were arrested. At another home on Giannotta Way, more than $100,000 in stolen property was seized, resulting in the arrest of Maria Sanchez, 66.

Multiple Suspects Still at Large

In addition to those arrests, four more suspects were detained: Jose Guzman (32), Derek Montes Rios (19), Stephanie Juarez Polvos (29), and Rigoberto Hernandez Guzman (36). However, authorities report that several individuals remain at large, including Juan Molas (41), Kevin Calderon (19), and Jacobo Giron (26), along with five other unidentified suspects. Sheriff Robert Jonsen praised the operation as a model of interagency collaboration and urged anyone with information to contact investigators at ORT@shf.sccgov.org.