Arrests Made in Major Theft Case
Two individuals were apprehended after investigators uncovered approximately $400,000 worth of stolen electronic equipment from a semi-truck, with an additional $100,000 missing, which Detective Royjindar Singh of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department suspects was sold on eBay.
“Upon the truck’s arrival at the Amazon facility, workers discovered that the entire shipment was absent,” Detective Singh stated. “The truck was entirely empty.”
In total, $500,000 worth of electronic goods vanished, including home audio items such as record players and boombox speakers that were being transported from a manufacturer on the East Coast to an Amazon warehouse in California. “I have not encountered a theft of this scale before, where an entire semi-truck has been stolen,” Detective Singh remarked.
Detective Singh noted a consistent trend of package thefts throughout the year, with notable spikes during special sales events, including Amazon Prime Day. “There have been multiple incidents where Amazon delivery vehicles, akin to our sprinter vans, have been stolen quickly,” he explained. “Typically, while the driver makes a delivery, someone jumps into the vehicle, drives it a few miles, unloads the cargo, and abandons the truck.” Several similar cases have been reported in the county over recent years.
Interestingly, the East Coast vendor took the initiative to investigate and discovered that his stolen products were being listed on eBay, prompting him to contact the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, which subsequently launched the investigation.
“The impact of such crimes extends beyond a mere victim,” Detective Singh emphasized. “Ultimately, someone has to bear the financial burden for the stolen goods, whether through increased insurance claims paid to vendors, which could drive up merchandise prices or heightened insurance rates. This is not how society should function.”
Following a two-month investigation, authorities arrested 58-year-old Ravinder Singh from Turlock and 36-year-old Nepal Singh from Modesto for possession of stolen property. Detective Singh mentioned that large-scale thefts are classified as felonies, potentially leading to prison time. With recent changes in California law, multiple minor thefts under a specific dollar amount may also result in felony charges.
Regarding the extra $100,000 worth of equipment presumed to be sold online, Detective Singh urged vigilance when purchasing items online and while awaiting package deliveries. “We speculate this might be linked to an organized operation,” he noted. “It’s improbable that someone could simply wake up and execute such a large theft independently. We suspect that more individuals may be arrested in the future.” He encouraged the public to report suspicious activities, particularly if they notice a large truck on a rural road without nearby warehouses, by calling 9-1-1.
