SAN FRANCISCO—Within a two-day span, officials from the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) served two search warrants at the same location, which soon resulted to the revelation of an extensive residential and commercial city-wide burglary operation.
According to a March 3 press release from the SFPD, on February 16, police obtained a search warrant for an apartment complex on the 1600 block of Polk Street. In an attempt to search for possibly stolen items taken from multiple reported burglaries, police had found numerous objects including entertainment systems, power tools, electronic devices and jewelry.
Police arrested the apartment’s resident, 30-year-old Pooja Gandhi. According to the SFPD, all of the discovered evidence was seized and brought to the Northern Station for inventory.
On February 19, the SFPD obtained a second search warrant to perform a follow-up investigation on the apartment. Once inside the home, police located and arrested another suspect, 33-year-old Joseph Valdez.
Valdez has since been charged with receiving stolen property, possession of narcotics for sale and possession of burglary tools. Valdez is also on felony probation for theft.
Further into the apartment’s search, more evidence was found including expensive clothing and house wares. According to the SFPD, five full truckloads of stolen property was recovered.
As investigators are currently in the process of identifying additional, potential suspects, persons who believe they may been a victim in this crime are strongly encouraged to contact the Northern Police Station at 415-614-3400.
