Police arrested a San Jose man in possession of rifles stolen
from Big 5 Sporting Goods in Morgan Hill.
Police arrested a San Jose man in possession of rifles stolen from Big 5 Sporting Goods in Morgan Hill.
Someone stole seven guns from the store at 150 Cochrane Plaza by cutting a hole through the store’s wall Thursday morning, according to police.
Hours later, Alexis Tomines, 28, was arrested with some of the firearms in his vehicle, and a search of his home uncovered dozens of marijuana plants growing inside, along with other merchandise believed to have been stolen from the Radio Shack in Morgan Hill in December, MHPD Sgt. Jerry Neumayer said.
About 9 a.m. Thursday, police received a call of a burglary at Big 5. The store manager told police that an unknown number of suspects stole five shotguns and two rifles sometime overnight. Police determined the thief or thieves cut a hole through the wall of the adjacent unit of the shopping center, which is vacant. The hole, which was made next to the rifle section, was big enough for the burglar to reach in and remove the rifles, Neumayer said.
The guns included models from popular brands such as Remington and Mossberg, Neumayer said. According to Big 5’s Web site, guns sold at the store range in retail price from less than $100 to more than $400.
Later that day, MHPD detectives acted on information on where the guns were taken, and along with authorities from the Regional Auto Theft Task Force they stopped a vehicle leaving the possible suspect’s residence.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers recovered seven rifles, some of which were confirmed stolen from Big 5. The male driver, Alexis Tomines of San Jose, was arrested about 2:30 p.m. for burglary and possession of stolen property, Neumayer said. He was booked into county jail.
Following the arrest, MHPD, RATTF, and the San Jose Police executed a search warrant at Tomines’ home off Fontanelle Drive, which was unoccupied at the time. Police seized 37 marijuana plants and numerous stolen items. Some of the stolen property matched electronics goods stolen from the Radio Shack at 1057 Cochrane Road. That burglary was similar to the one Big 5, as the suspect cut a hole in the wall of the business next door and reached inside to steal the items. The Radio Shack burglary took place between Dec. 24 and Dec. 26, 2008, Neumayer said.
Neumayer said it is not clear if Tomines was the burglar who initially stole the rifles, or if he was a middle man who acquired the guns from the burglar.
“We think there are more people involved,” Neumayer said. “The investigation is ongoing and we are developing further leads and additional victims.”
A manager on duty at Big 5 Sporting Goods Monday morning said she could not comment on the incident, and referred the Times to the company’s corporate offices. Phone messages left at that number were not returned.
Neumayer said anyone with information on the crime may contact MHPD at (408) 779-2101.
