A group of teenage burglars from the Bay Area is now in custody after a series of crimes involving nearly 80 homes and vehicles. This spree included high-speed chases, stolen firearms, and an alleged operation involving around $250,000 in stolen goods. Concord police have released a video compilation titled “Teamwork Leads to Arrests in Regional Armed Burglary Series” to highlight the collaborative efforts that led to the arrests.
The footage captures the suspects breaking into parked vehicles during early morning hours. They used stolen garage door openers to enter garages and steal power tools, firearms, and other valuables. In one instance, an armed suspect is seen pointing a firearm at a home’s interior door, seemingly waiting for a resident. During another raid, the suspects allegedly stole 14 firearms from one home.
Detectives connected the suspects to 37 burglaries in Concord and an additional 40 across Contra Costa and Solano counties. They also stole vehicles, allegedly using them for further crimes. Officers often lost track of the suspects during their pursuits.
In May, police attempted to stop a suspect vehicle, which led to a chase that was eventually aborted due to safety concerns. In June, suspects escaped again after crashing a vehicle and fleeing on foot. The case turned a corner in late June when Concord detectives, in cooperation with Richmond Police, identified four juveniles involved in the burglaries. One was already detained for a separate matter. Three others were apprehended in July through coordinated efforts by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the SWAT team and U.S. Marshals.
Authorities found two stolen firearms during searches of the suspects’ homes. A third was recovered earlier by Richmond Police. Investigators discovered an organized fencing operation, implicating 37-year-old Wuillian Cordova-Cubias from Oakland. He allegedly bought stolen power tools from the juveniles shortly after the burglaries.
On August 5, police searched Cordova-Cubias’ residence, finding 500 stolen power tools, a stolen ATV, forklift, an unregistered firearm, and various valuable items, all worth about $250,000. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged him with receiving stolen property, unlawful firearm activity, and conspiracy with the juveniles. They added sentencing enhancements that might increase penalties if convicted.
District Attorney Diana Becton emphasized the efficacy of their Organized Theft Unit, which collaborates with law enforcement to prosecute these cases rigorously. Cordova-Cubias is held at Martinez Detention Facility, awaiting his arraignment.
Charges have also been filed against the three juvenile suspects, whose identities remain confidential under California law.