Man Pleads No Contest To San Leandro Burglary

SAN LEANDRO, CA — An Oakland man known as the "Teddy Bear Bandit" pleaded no contest Wednesday to second-degree commercial burglary for burglarizing a flower shop in San Leandro in October, according to court records.

Andre Benny Murphy, 46, entered his plea in Alameda County Superior Court in Dublin shortly after San Leandro issued a news release announcing that he had been arrested in Oakland last Friday.

San Leandro police said they dubbed Murphy the "Teddy Bear Bandit" after East Bay Flowers at 1200 E. 14th St. was burglarized at about 2 a.m. on Oct. 11.

Police said Murphy used a BB-style handgun to shoot out the front glass windows to the shop, entered the store and stole numerous flowers and stuffed animals.

The entire incident was captured on the store's video surveillance system, according to police.

Lt. Isaac Benabou said detectives began investigating the case and received a lead from another police agency that led them to Murphy.During the investigation some of the stuffed teddy bears were found at a female's home in Alameda and a warrant was issued for Murphy's arrest, Benabou said.

Several other law enforcement agencies are also investigating Murphy for similar burglaries, according to police.

"The case is an example of how law enforcement agencies network together, sharing information to solve cases," Benabou said in a statement.

He said, "We know that the suspect had given the stolen flowers and stuffed animals to a female friend. Now, the teddy bear bandit will have to find other ways to show his affection."

Court records indicate that Murphy has numerous prior felony convictions but as part of his plea agreement today they were stricken from his record for sentencing purposes, which means that they won't be used to increase his sentence.

Murphy remains in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in lieu of $185,000 bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 18.

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— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock