Selfie Leads To Arrests In $100K Business Burglary From East Bay To Napa Valley

NAPA VALLEY, CA — A single selfie helped crack a six-figure burglary case that stretched from American Canyon to Hayward, according to investigators.

A show-off selfie led investigators to two Hayward men who were arrested after investigators linked them to a business burglary that netted more than $100,000 in stolen tools, copper wire, and vehicles.

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The burglary was reported Monday by an American Canyon business in the 1100 block of Green Island Road.

American Canyon police identified two vehicles believed to have been used in the crime and shared that information with neighboring law enforcement agencies.

On Tuesday, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office stopped one of the vehicles and detained its driver.

A 53-year-old man, Daniel Lemas, of Hayward, arrested by American Canyon police on suspicion of multiple felony burglary charges.

Police said investigators found selfie photographs that appear to show Lemas committing the burglary. He was booked into the Napa County Department of Corrections.

On Wednesday, the Hayward Police Department stopped the second vehicle tied to the investigation and detained 49-year-old Dennis Tylij, of Hayward.

American Canyon officers arrested him on suspicion of felony conspiracy to commit a crime. He also was booked into the Napa County Department of Corrections.

Later that day, American Canyon police, Napa County Sheriff's detectives, Hayward police officers, and members of the Napa Special Investigations Bureau served a search warrant at a Hayward home in the 3200 block of Arden Road.

Investigators recovered some of the property they suspect was stolen during the American Canyon burglary, police said.