Laptop Thief Caught In San Leandro: Police

SAN LEANDRO, CA — One juvenile has been arrested and an Apple laptop computer recovered following a coffee shop theft last Monday, Dec. 11. A second laptop is being investigated as possibly stolen. A stolen iPhone X was not recovered.

"The theft of laptops and cell phones from coffee shops is a daily crime in our society. Stolen laptops and other electronic devices are being sold for a fraction of their value to other thieves and resold through various means," said Lt. Isaac Benabou. "Please take extra precaution when handling your expensive electronics in public. Always be aware of your surroundings and never leave your personal belongings unattended."

San Leandro Police say that a group of juveniles went to a Starbucks around 2:30 p.m. One of them grabbed an Apple laptop computer while another grabbed an iPhone X from patrons who were working on their devices.

The group including the two suspects ran out and split up, running in multiple directions. Police arrived int he area quickly following 911 calls.

An undercover San Leandro Police officer spotted part of the group as they ran to the Bayfair BART station and entered the train platform. Officers detained the group on the platform prior to boarding the train. The stolen laptop was found inside a backpack. A second laptop was also found and is being investigated as possible stolen property.

The missing iPhone X was not found.

— Image by Renee Schiavone, Patch