Eli W. Mahoney
SAN LEANDRO – Two men believed to be responsible for a crime spree last week are now in custody, but San Leandro police say they’re still searching for more suspects.
Four businesses were burglarized and four vehicles stolen, before police found one of the stolen cars parked at the intersection of 92nd Avenue and E. Street in Oakland, where Jason R. Lee, 35, of Hayward was arrested early on October 19.
Jason R. Lee
Lee was booked on several charges at Santa Rita Jail, where he’s being held for $175,000 bail. His charges include auto theft, burglary, possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, carrying a concealed and loaded firearm a vehicle, robbery, sexual battery by restraint, receiving stolen property and violation of probation.
Police arrested Eli W. Mahoney, 26, of Oakland at 5:20 a.m., on October 20, at the Grafco Convenience Store, 525 Williams Street, where he was found hiding inside. Officers had arrived to investigate a fourth business burglary in as many days.
Mahoney’s charges include auto theft, receiving a stolen vehicle and property, evading an officer, burglary, and probation violation. He is being held at Santa Rita Jail for $225,000 bail.
Police began collecting evidence, beginning with security camera video, when they responded to an alarm at 10 p.m. on October 17 at the Valero gas station located at 1495 Hays Street, where more than $2,000 worth of tobacco products were stolen.
Four hours later, officers responded to second alarm at McKevitt Volvo dealership on Marina Boulevard, where burglars gained entry by cutting a hole in a roll-up door, stole employees’ personal items, took keys to four cars parked on the sales lot, and stole three new Volvos and one used Audi SUV.
At 2:40 a.m. on October 19, police responded to a third burglary alarm at Bara’s Deli, located at shopping center at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Monterey Boulevard, where someone had attempted to enter by drilling holes in the front windows and front door lock, where a broken drill bit was found stuck.
About 15 minutes later, officers responded to a fourth alarm at the Premier Gas station located at 15018 Hesperian Boulevard, where the front doors had been broken; cash, lottery tickets, and tobacco products were stolen.
Officers arriving at the gas station spotted an Audi SUV and Volvo speeding away from the scene, at speeds too fast to engage without significant risk to the public. Security video from the gas station indicated those cars matched the description of two of the vehicles stolen from the McKevitt dealership.
Another one of the stolen Volvos was involved in a hit and run collision on October 19 in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland and the driver fled the scene.
