Pre-Holiday Edition of "Name That Thief"

It is time for our pre-holiday edition of Name That Thief.  In this round, you will have two opportunities to…. say it with me…….Name – That – Thief. 

Case #14S-09631

In our first case, we see how quickly a suspect can get into an unlocked car and steal things….even with good lighting and video cameras.  In giving advice to the community, time and again we remind everyone to (1) Lock Your Doors, (2) Don’t Leave Valuables Out In The Open. Here is video #1

This suspect enters this unlocked truck and takes an iPod and pocket knife in just about 2 minutes time.  The theft happened on Thursday November 20^th around 5:30 PM in the 100 block of Mission Street. 

In video #2 our suspect heads out of the truck, and you can see his “lookout” wingman enter the picture momentarily.  Here is video #2:

Both look to be white males in their late teens or early twenties.  If you recognize them, send us a tip using the info at the bottom of this post. 

Case #14S-09598

In our second case, this suspect steals a couple of pairs of socks from CVS by stuffing them down the front of his pants and walking out the store.  This event happened on Wednesday November 19th around 8:50 PM.  Here is our suspect.... pre-sock stuffing

With the holidays looming, this kind of behavior is sure to get our suspects on the legendary “Naughty List.  Help us catch them to increase your chances of being on the “Nice List”. 

Have a great Thanksgiving!!!

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit (831) 420-5820.  Anonymous tips can also be sent to the police department through our Tip Line (831) 420-5995, or from our Website; www.santacruzpolice.com .  Tipsters can also submit an anonymous tip via our smartphone app or from an SMS text.  Visit our Website for instructions.

Sandwich Suspect Submarined by Name That Thief

The case of the “Lunchbox Larceny”…..actually “Robbery” has been solved. 

Last week we posted this video

and photo

of our suspect who attempted to steal a sandwich from a downtown store.  When confronted, our suspect pulled a knife on store employees. 

An alert Sheriff’s Sergeant saw the photo and called in to identify him as Daniel Replogle

Mr. Replogle is 32 years old and transient in Santa Cruz.  He was located on Saturday on the 100 block of Coral Street and arrested for this robbery. 

For those that criticized the store and defended Mr. Repogle; rationalizing his behavior as just that of “a hungry man”……Well, not quite.  We take offense when you pull a knife on store clerks, or anyone for that matter!!! 

That was a robbery and you should know Mr. Replogle has a long history of arrests dating back to 2003 for offenses such as drugs, prescription meds without a prescription, theft, and possession of stolen property.  In fact, he has been arrested by our agency 5 times this year alone, and….he is on Probation! 

Officers recovered the knife he used in the brandishing, and also recovered a credit card that does not belong to him.  We’ll be following up on that part of this, as well.   

Thanks to our alert and knowledgeable friends at the Sheriff's Office for the assist on this one.  

Surf Shop Bandit Identified and Arrested

Thanks to our “Gnarlatious” friends in the “Line Up”, we “Caught a Few”, and were able to identify our suspect.  

Officer "Big Wave" Dave Albert took the "Swell" of information and "Locked In".  Here are the photos from the store video:

Tips led us to this “Tasty” Facebook posting where the suspect is wearing the same tank top he had on during the theft video.  

This was like a big ‘ol "Neptune’s Cocktail"  followed by a “Sand Facial”.  

Detectives on the “Dawn Patrol” “Dropped In” on our unsuspecting “Shubie” and “Towed Him In”.

The suspect is a 17 year old Cabrillo College student from Novato.  Since he is a juvenile, we won't identify him by name.  Turns out he was staying at the luxury hotel with his parents at the same time the credit card was stolen.

The case is closed thanks to your tips and the hard work of Officer "Big Wave" Dave Albert.  We’ll show our gratitude with a friendly nod of the head and with a smile, simply say, “Dude”.    

"El Mustachio The Magician" is Captured

“El Mustachio The Magician” has been caught. 

"El Mustachio" has been identified as 

 Shawn Fialho - 45 years old 

with a last known address in Boulder Creek.  

Shawn Fialho was dubbed “El Mustachio The Magician” for his distinctive moustache captured on security surveillance from Costco, and for his ability to make merchandise disappear from store shelves and packaging.  Here are those Costco images:    

Fialho has taken electronics merchandise from the store on a number of occasions and has been captured on their video surveillance.   The last time he entered the store, he had shaved his trademark moustache and looked like this:

but, alas....he had the same boots on!

We posted images from the video asking for the public’s help in identifying him and offering a commemorative El Mustachio glass signed by the Chief, as a reward. 

This fabulous and priceless reward did its job, as shortly after the offer we received a call from a tipster identifying Fialho as “El Mustachio”. 

 

Our tipster asked to remain unidentified.....so now I have a case of El Mustachio glasses sitting on my office. 

He was picked up by the Sheriff’s Office in Soquel last week on an unrelated arrest.  We have attached our cases to his arrest for prosecution.  Fialho has a long history of arrests for theft and drug related cases.  He is a true Probation All Star, as he is currently on Probation 5x over. 

Fialho's history of booking photos match the different looks he sported during his Costco heists:

His latest booking photo shows the moustache is coming back

Congrats Santa Cruz Community…..you have come through again on our “Name That Thief” feature.  This year alone, you have helped us identify a number of suspects from photos posted here on our blog!  Good Job Everyone! 

We’ll keep posting up the photos and I’ll keep springing for equally fabulous rewards (courtesy of Dollar Tree), as we work together to clean up the town!