Delivery Driver Accused Of Embezzlement

PETALUMA, CA — An employee of a local package delivery business was arrested on suspicion of burglary and embezzlement Thursday when detectives found more than $15,000 worth of stolen goods at his house, the Petaluma Police Department said.

Detectives began investigating the employee, identified as Genaro Pena-Valencia, 28, of Santa Rosa, in late July when the police department received a report that an employee was stealing packages off other delivery trucks before they left the business.

Detectives worked with the delivery business’s internal security team and found a residence where the stolen packages were likely being held, police said.

At 5:45 a.m. Thursday, detectives and patrol officers stopped and arrested Pena-Valencia at Petaluma Boulevard North and Stony Point Road as he was on his way to work.

After arresting Pena-Valencia on an outstanding warrant for his arrest in connection with an unrelated incident, detectives served a search warrant at his residence in the 1000 block of South Wright Road in Santa Rosa.

Inside the home, detectives recovered 63 items that had been in packages and together were worth over $15,000, police said.

Pena-Valencia was arrested on suspicion of burglary and embezzlement and booked into Sonoma County jail.