$1M Samsung Electronics Theft Ring, 3 Charged In Elwood

ELWOOD, IL — The Elwood Police Department has filed criminal charges against three men who are accused of stealing of more than $1 million in electronics merchandise, mainly tablets and smart watches, from the Samsung /Neovia electronics warehouse at the CenterPoint Industrial Park.

One of the three defendants is now in custody. Thirty-six-year-old Joliet resident Jose Sanchez is charged with class 2 felony theft. Elwood Police say that Sanchez, who lived on NW Circle Drive in Joliet, was working alone responsible for stealing more than $40,000 in electronics gear from the Samsung Electronics warehouse in Elwood.

The other two men who face more severe criminal charges are still at large: Ruben Garza, 30, of Elwood's 800 block of Laurel Avenue, and 36-year-old Paul Calderon Jr.,of Chicago. Garza's photo appears at the very top of this Joliet Patch exclusive article.

Joliet Patch got the exclusive because this writer spotted the Elwood Police sergeant who has been spearheading the ongoing investigation inside the Will County Courthouse this week.

Elwood Police say that Garza and Calderon were working together as part of the warehouse theft ring. Calderon has been charged with class 2 felony theft and his bail is $150,000.

On Thursday, Elwood Police Chief Fred Hayes told Joliet Patch: "I'll say Garza is the mastermind. As for Sanchez, it seems to be that he was working solo."

According to Elwood Police, Garza "had been selling stolen Samsung electronics on eBay and other online websites. Investigators learned that Garza had also been renting storage units in Joliet to hide and load the stolen merchandise."

The investigation began many months ago when Samsung's Corporate Security contacted police, notifying them that some of their merchandise was being stolen and turning up for sale online, Chief Hayes explained.

"In the beginning, we were just figuring this was a couple thousand dollars worth of merchandise," Hayes told Patch. "But it ended up being over $1 million in merchandise."

Garza, who has now gone into hiding, has been charged with class X felony theft, and his bail has been set at $1 million, Elwood Police informed Patch.

Garza has known since January he was on the Elwood Police's radar. That's when Elwood Police obtained a search warrant and raided his Elwood home as well as the storage units in Joliet he was renting, police reports indicate.

"Police were able to recover and seize numerous stolen Samsung watches and tables from Garza's residence," Elwood Police stated.

"Elwood Police also served a subpoena on Garza's bank records, which revealed deposits from online transactions of more than $500,000 from a company in Texas named 'Aerobadgets.' Police executed a search warrant on one of Garza's bank accounts totaling $133,353."

If you believe you can help the Elwood Police Department find Garza and Calderon, to get them behind bars, you are urged to call Elwood Police Sgt. Andrew Anderson at 815-693-5005 or you can go through the Will County Crimestoppers at 800-323-6734.

Hayes said he's absolutely certain that Garza and Calderon don't want to be found by the police. "We believe that they know we are looking for them," Hayes told Patch.

Hayes said that if people provide information to the Will County Crimestoppers that leads to the duo's arrests, the tipsters are likely to get a cash reward.

Elwood Police say their investigation has been assisted by Shorewood Police, Braidwood Police, the Will County Sheriff's Office, Illinois State Police Cargo Theft Task Force, Samsung Corporate Security and the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow.